# NTSB CEN20CA255: Piper PA18A-150, N7684D, Brainerd, MN, July 1, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2020, 07:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Brainerd, MN - Coordinates: 46.306388, -94.176391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3064&lon=-94.1764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA255 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on a shortened field and his incorrect brake application. Contributing was the flight instructor's lack of oversight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction to satisfy insurance requirements. They decided to fly to the instructor's home and land in a field behind his house. They made a low pass and noted that there was a slight ditch with some water in it about halfway down the field. They landed beyond the ditch and the pilot noticed some trees at the end of the field that were getting closer. The pilot believed the tail was still flying when he applied slight braking to slow down. The airplane struck a bump, or bounced, and nosed over, causing substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, the engine, and the propeller. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7684D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7684D), registered now, S/N 18-5906, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5906 - Year built: 1957 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BRD, Brainerd, MN - Destination: BRD, Brainerd, MN - Airport: None, Thiesse, runway 09, 2,500 × 500 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 278 total, 3 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: BRD, 75 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200701008379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200701008379A), Jul 1, 2020: Piper PA-18A 150, Brainerd, MN, Substantial damage. 2020-07-01 The PIC showed up to kbrd, met with the other pilot/cfi briefly, did a preflight and departed for local landing practice. On the fly the CFI brought… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101519. 3.6 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident-Incident Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486642&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident-Incident%20Report-Master.PDF - Accident Location (item 2, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486643&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Location-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 950 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.