Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of experience in tail-wheeled airplanes.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 3, 2004, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N57430, was substantially damaged while landing at the Bennetts Airport, North Creek, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that he was landing the tail-wheeled airplane to the northwest, on a 3,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, turf runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, and it's right wingtip impacted a tree.
The pilot reported that the winds were calm, and he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions.
According to the pilot's logbook, prior to the accident, he had accumulated about 122 hours of total flight experience, which included 11 hours in tail-wheel airplanes. He received an endorsement to operate tail-wheel airplanes on June 24, 2004.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC04CA155