# NTSB ERA12CA311: Piper PA-18-150, N82398, Eaton, NY, April 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 29, 2012, 06:40 local (10:40 UTC)
- Place: Eaton, NY
- Coordinates: 42.859443, -75.585556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8594&lon=-75.5856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA311
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83508/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83508
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA311

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper approach to landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he permitted the airplane to get low and slow during short final approach to the runway. He stated that he increased the engine power; however, the engine did not “seem” to immediately respond. Although the pilot tried to stretch the glide to reach the grass airstrip, the airplane skimmed the river water in front of the strip, and the airplane impacted an adjacent riverbank and came to rest inverted at the beginning of the grass strip, incurring substantial damage to the vertical empennage section. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the pilot’s certification showed that his last medical certificate was issued in February 2007, and was expired when the accident occurred.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he departed about 0620 from his private property and flew to his friend’s private grass strip. During short final approach, the pilot permitted the airplane’s airspeed to get slow and the altitude to get low. He increased the engine power; however, the pilot stated the engine did not “seem” to immediately respond. Although the pilot tried to stretch the glide to reach the intended grass strip, the airplane skimmed the river water in front of the strip and the airplane’s nose section impacted with the riverbank. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted at the beginning of the grass strip, incurring substantial damage to the vertical empennage section. The pilot stated the airplane was in excellent mechanical condition and he did not experience any mechanical problems during the flight. A review of the pilot’s certification by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that his last medical was in February of 2007, and was expired.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82398](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82398), registered now, S/N 18-7709154, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7709154
- Airframe hours: 744
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2012
- Departed: Oriskany, NJ
- Destination: Eaton, NY
- Airport: NONE, Private Strip, runway 27, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,210 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RME, 22 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 20120429007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120429007379A), Apr 29, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Eaton, NY, Substantial damage. On April 29, 2012, at approximately 0640 EDT, [privacy data omitted], commercial pilot certificate holder # [privacy data omitted], was the PIC of N82398, a…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83508. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Local Agencies: Excerpts From Law Enforcement Incident Report. (item 2, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20Law%20Enforcement%20Incident%20Report.-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Pilot's Statement to Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector.-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports:Record of Conversation with Pilot. (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3ARecord%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot.-Master.PDF
- Photo 1) View of the Airplane Inverted on the Ground at the Beginning of the Grass Airstrip. Photo Provide by the FAA. (item 5, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%20Inverted%20on%20the%20Ground%20at%20the%20Beginning%20of%20the%20Grass%20Airstrip.%20Photo%20Provide%20by%20the%20FAA.-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.

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