- Date
- June 9, 2008, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fall RiverMills, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N273CCPiper Cub Crafters PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080609838029A
- Case key
- 68209
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff/landing area.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he intentionally landed in a pasture. The grassy field looked adequate for takeoff. The pilot stated that he did not see a fence located at the distant end of the pasture. The airplane became airborne, and when it was about 6 feet in the air, the tail snagged a wire fence. Thereafter, the airplane descended into the ground. As the airplane decelerated it nosed over and came to rest partially submerged in water. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the business flight he landed in a pasture. The grassy field looked adequate for takeoff. The pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he did not observe a fence located at the distant end of the pasture. The airplane became airborne, and when it was about 6 feet in the air, the tail snagged a wire fence. Thereafter, the airplane descended into the ground. As the airplane decelerated it nosed over and came to rest partially submerged in water. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N273CC
- Reported as
- Piper Cub Crafters PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9920CC
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Herbert R. Holzapfel
- Registered owner
- Cedar Springs Ranch
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · Fall RiverMills, CA
- Destination
- WLW · Willows, CA
- Airport
- NONE · No Name
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 989 total · 369 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.