- Date
- May 13, 2000, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Forest Hill, MD
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9432PPiper PA18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000513040109A
- Case key
- 49178
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Factors in this accident were the tailwind condition, and the pilot's lack of flight experience in tail-wheeled airplanes.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While landing on Runway 31, a 2,650 foot long, 50 foot wide asphalt runway, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, where it impacted a parked airplane. Winds reported at an airport about 15 miles south of the accident site, were from 160 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot reported 183 hours of total flight experience; with 5 hours in tail-wheeled airplanes, all in the PA-18-150.
Factual narrative
On May 13, 2000, about 1430 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA18-150, N9432P, was substantially damaged while landing at the Forest Hill Airport, Forest Hill, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at Donegal Springs, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was landing on Runway 31, a 2,650 foot long, 50 foot wide asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway, and impacted a parked airplane.
The pilot stated he entered the traffic pattern for Runway 31, after he observed the windsock indicated the wind direction was from the northwest at 5 to 10 knots. The pilot described the approach and touchdown as "normal;" however, he had "no recollection of events following touchdown."
A witness at the airport observed the airplane on final approach with it's left wing down, "in a slip." After touchdown, the airplane yawed back and forth on the runway. The airplane then entered the grass area adjacent to the runway and struck the parked airplane.
Winds reported at an airport about 15 miles south of the accident site, at 1448, were from 160 degrees at 5 knots.
The pilot reported 183 hours of total flight experience; with 5 hours in tail-wheeled airplanes, all in the PA-18-150.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9432P
- Reported as
- Piper PA18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7409120
- Airframe hours
- 1,380
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Forest Hill Management Co. Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 17, 2000 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- N71 · Donegal Springs, PA
- Destination
- MD31
- Airport
- MD31 · Forest Hill, runway 31, 2,650 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 183 total · 5 in this make and model · 113 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MTN, 17 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.