- Date
- January 10, 2009, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Elrosa, MN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2553SPiper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090110002019A
- Case key
- 73225
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control after touchdown on a snow-covered runway.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot elected to attempt a landing in a snow-covered field. The tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down on the main wheels in a "tail low" attitude. The pilot did not initially realize that the snow was too soft and deep. He added full power and pulled back on the stick, but he was unable to prevent the airplane from nosing over. It slid for approximately 7 feet before coming to rest. After the accident, the pilot determined that the snow was about 14 inches deep. He commented that although the airplane was equipped with large diameter tires, the snow was too deep. He reported that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged when the airplane nosed over.
Factual narrative
The pilot elected to attempt a landing at a field. The tail wheel equipped airplane touched down on the main wheels in a "tail low" attitude. The pilot did not initially realize that the snow was too soft and deep. He added full power and pulled back on the stick, but he was unable to prevent the airplane from nosing over. It slid for approximately 7 feet before coming to rest. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged when the airplane nosed over. After the accident, the pilot determined that the snow was about 14 inches deep. He commented that although the airplane was equipped with large diameter tires, the snow was too deep. He reported that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2553S
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7909159
- Airframe hours
- 1,798
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 7, 2008
- Departed
- LJF · Litchfield, MN
- Destination
- Litchfield, MN
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 9, 2008
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 745 total · 365 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -8 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.22 inHg
- Observed at
- GHW, 17 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.