# NTSB FTW00LA086: Piper PA-18, N8967C, New Ulm, TX, February 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 2000, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: New Ulm, TX - Coordinates: 29.869831, -96.489295 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8698&lon=-96.4893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48679/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a fence during the aborted landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - fence - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8967C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8967C-2000-09-15), registration cancelled 2000-09-15, S/N 18-2933 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2933 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leonard F. Firth - Registered owner: Harrison Interests Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 12R, BROOKSHIRE, TX - Destination: NONE, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 20000226029909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000226029909A), Feb 26, 2000: Piper PA18, New Ulm, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)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… 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.