Summary
On October 18, 2011, a Piper PA-18-150 (N8485D) was involved in an accident near Brookings, SD. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions while landing.
The pilot reported that the tailwheel equipped airplane encountered a wind gust during landing rollout on runway 35, which lifted the left wing and caused the airplane to swerve to the right. The pilot responded with the application of full engine power to initiate an aborted landing, but the airplane encountered another wind gust that further lifted the left wing and caused the right wing to impact the ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest in a field situated alongside the runway. The airplane's engine firewall, wings, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded the normal operation of the airplane.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA028. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8485D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions while landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that the tailwheel equipped airplane encountered a wind gust during landing rollout on runway 35, which lifted the left wing and caused the airplane to swerve to the right. The pilot responded with the application of full engine power to initiate an aborted landing, but the airplane encountered another wind gust that further lifted the left wing and caused the right wing to impact the ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest in a field situated alongside the runway. The airplane's engine firewall, wings, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded the normal operation of the airplane. The airport's weather station reported that the wind was from the north-northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 24 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN12CA028