- Date
- May 9, 1999, 19:40 local (May 10, 1999, 01:40 UTC)
- Place
- Vincennes, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3VUPiper PA-18-L21B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990509004909A
- Case key
- 46267
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 failure to maintain directional control after landing. Factors which contributed to this accident were the pilot's long touchdown, the rough area on the runway, and the wheat field.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said he made a smooth touchdown about halfway down runway 21 (2,350 X 100) at the O'Neal Airport, Vincennes, Indiana. The pilot said that shortly after touchdown, the airplane hit a rough spot on the runway. The airplane bounced into the air, and the tail began to shift around. The pilot said that he couldn't get on the brakes because he was busy trying to keep the airplane straight. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway into a wheat field. The plane slowed, but suddenly stopped and nosed over slowly on to its back. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On May 9, 1999, at 1940 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA- 18-L21B, N3VU, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when on landing, the airplane veered right, off of the runway, and nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at the O'Neal Airport, Vincennes, Indiana, at 1840 cst.
In his written statement, the pilot said he made a smooth touchdown about halfway down runway 21 (2,350 X 100) at the O'Neal Airport. The pilot said that shortly after touchdown, the airplane hit a rough spot on the runway. The airplane bounced into the air, and the tail began to shift around. The pilot said that he couldn't get on the brakes because he was busy trying to keep the airplane straight. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway into a wheat field. The plane slowed, but suddenly stopped and nosed over slowly on to its back. The pilot described the weather, at the time of the accident, as clear and no wind.
The airplane was examined at the airport by an airplane and powerplant (A&P) mechanic tasked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airplane showed damage to the engine cowling, forward fuselage and windscreen. The left wing strut was bent inward, three feet inboard of the wing attach point. The leading edges of both wings were dented inward at the inboard 3 ribs. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3VU
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-L21B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-3987
- Airframe hours
- 3,505
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Vincennes University
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 22, 1999 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- OEA
- Airport
- OEA · Vincennes-O'Neal Airport, runway 21, 2,350 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 74 total · 7 in this make and model · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LWV, 5 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.
Other investigations on N3VU · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.