# NTSB ERA21LA131: Piper PA-18, N8183C, Lake Placid, FL, February 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 10, 2021, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Placid, FL - Coordinates: 27.245, -81.414 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2450&lon=-81.4140&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 102640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102640/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102640 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that the aft seat cushion was adequately secured, which resulted in its movement, subsequent interference with the flight controls, and a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: control column section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tandem seat-equipped airplane was high while on final approach to land, so he induced a slip to lose altitude before landing. Due to the forward pitch of the airplane during the slip, the aft seat cushion slid forward and lodged between the seat frame and control stick. The pilot the applied back pressure on the control stick to flare the airplane and slow the descent, but the control stick was blocked by the aft seat cushion. The airplane continued to descend, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8183C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8183C), registered now, S/N 18-3642, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3642 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 4111 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 09FA, Placid lakes, runway 36, 2,723 × 55 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 7, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 96 total, 28 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: SEF, 13 nm away - METAR: KSEF 102355Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 25/17 A3009 RMK AO2 T02450175 10293 20245 402930176 ## 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 20210210016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210210016159A), Feb 10, 2021: Piper PA-18, Lake Placid, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: departed 09FA on runway 18 on 2/10/21 at 17:45 EST to the south after performing pre-flight and runup with nothing abnormal noticed. Performed… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102640. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12063004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_N8183C_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12063486&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement #2 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12063613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8183C_MFR%20PIC%20Derek%20Hendrie_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12063177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA21LA131-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.