# NTSB ERA20CA223: Piper PA18, N3681Z, Monroe, NC, June 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2020, 13:34 local (17:34 UTC) - Place: Monroe, NC - Coordinates: 34.998889, -80.644165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9989&lon=-80.6442&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101476/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101476 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA223 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate assessment of the landing area, which resulted in the airplane's encounter with tall weeds during landing and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was returning to his farm and performed both high and low "reconnaissance flights" over the farm field before landing. He stated the landing was normal until the airplane struck some taller weeds in the field and nosed over, substantially damaging the tail. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that he had not expected the weeds to be so high and that cutting all vegetation in the landing area might have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was returning to his farm and performed both high and low "reconnaissance flights" over the farm field before landing. He stated the landing was normal until the airplane struck some taller weeds in the field and nosed over, substantially damaging the tail. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that he had not expected the weeds to be so high and that cutting all vegetation in the landing area might have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3681Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3681Z), registered now, S/N 18-7410, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (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: 18-7410 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 2665.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 A3B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 13, 2020, 11 hours before - Departed: EQY, Monroe, NC - Destination: Monroe, NC - Airport: EQY, Charlotte-Monroe Executive - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,437.3 total, 300.1 in this make and model, 2,299.3 as pilot in command, 38.2 in the last 90 days, 23.5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: EQY, 2 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 20200622008339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200622008339A), Jun 22, 2020: Piper PA-18-150, Monroe, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot landed a/c on private uncut field predominately covered with common wheat approx. 3 feet high with scattered but concentrated patches of thistle weed up… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101476. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9920293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9920424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9920302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Coordinator-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9920525&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20CA223%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.