FTW00LA086

Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot flew the airplane over the grass airstrip, and noted that the wind was 90 degrees to the runway at a speed of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot reported that when the airplane descended below the tree height, the airplane 'floated more than expected and when I touched down, the surface of the strip had gopher mounds making aircraft braking ineffective so I added power to abort the landing. The aircraft seemed to be in a downdraft and was hesitant to fly, but I was committed at this point and continued.' The airplane struck a barbed wire fence at the end of the runway and the propeller became entangled with the fence. The aircraft continued to climb to the height of the treetops and 'lost power'. Subsequently, the main landing gear struck the trees causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest in a brush pile.

On February 26, 2000, at 1630 central standard time, a Piper PA-18, tail-wheel equipped airplane, N8967C, struck a fence and trees during an aborted landing near New Ulm, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was owned by Harrison Interests Ltd. of Houston, Texas, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed the Mikeska Field Airport, Brookshire, Texas, approximately 1600.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and on a written statement, the 8,000-hour pilot reported that his destination was a private grass airstrip located approximately 4 miles south of New Ulm, Texas. Upon arrival, the pilot flew the airplane over the 4,200 foot airstrip and noted that the wind was 90 degrees to the runway at 10 to 12 knots. The pilot reported that when the airplane descended below the tree height, the airplane "floated more than expected and when I touched down, the surface of the strip had gopher mounds making aircraft braking ineffective so I added power to abort the landing. The aircraft seemed to be in a downdraft and was hesitant to fly, but I was committed at this point and continued." The airplane struck a barbed wire fence at the end of the runway and the propeller became entangled with the fence. The airplane continued to climb to the height of the treetops and "lost power". Subsequently, the main landing gear struck the trees causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest in a brush pile.

According to a FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, the wings, empennage, and firewall were substantially damaged.