N7494K – Piper PA-20 – 2006-06-06 NTSB Accident Report

On June 06, 2006, a Piper PA-20 (N7494K) was involved in an incident near Salt Lake City, UT. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: An improper flare and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing which resulted in the aircraft nosing over. Delayed remedial action was a factor.

The student pilot was practicing three-point landings when the tailwheel equipped airplane began to bounce and drift to the left. The pilot said that he initially thought about going around, but hesitated as the airplane continued to bounce and drift left. The pilot stated that he then decided to go around, adding full power and raising the flaps. He related that after he added full power the airplane continued to bounce and porpoise while drifting further to the left, which prompted him to abort the go-around. He said he then made a right rudder and right brake input, "...then I panicked and hit both brakes. The airplane nosed over and came to rest upside down [off the side of the runway]. I should have gone around sooner rather than thinking about it."

This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA06CA113. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7494K.