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November 2, 1999 · Piper PA-18-150 · N4285Z

Bullfrog, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 2, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Bullfrog, UT
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N4285Z
Operator
James M Elegante
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN00LA014

The pilot's landing on runway 19 was normal and the wind was calm. During landing roll, the aircraft departed the runway to the right, traveled down a 10 degree embankment and struck a fence. The pilot said he applied left rudder pressure without effect. According to an FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot following the accident, the pilot told him that he may have inadvertently applied pressure to the rudder pedal rather than to the brake. A functional test of the rudder and brake system was performed and no discrepancies were noted. The pilot had accumulated a total of 7 hours in the PA-18-150, 2 of which were as pilot-in-command. He had received his tailwheel endorsement on the day of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in type of aircraft and the fence.

Full Narrative

On November 2, 1999, approximately 1650 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4285Z, was substantially damaged when it departed the side of the runway and collided with a fence during landing roll at Bullfrog Basin Airport, Bullfrog, Utah. The private pilot and airline transport pilot certificated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Canyonlands Field Airport, Moab, Utah, at 1445. According to the pilot, prior to landing at Bullfrog airport, he contacted the airport's UNICOM (Universal Integrated Communication) frequency and requested an airport advisory. He was told that the preferred runway was 19. He approached the airport for landing from the southeast and noticed that the windsock indicated the wind was calm. The pilot stated that the downwind, base and final approach segments to runway 19 were "normal." He landed the aircraft just past the runway threshold. The main wheels touched down first, followed by the tail wheel. According to the pilot, the aircraft continued in a normal landing roll, then veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway and traveled down a 10 degree embankment, impacting a fence and sustaining damage to the horizontal stabilizer, both right wing struts, the nose cowling, and propeller. The pilot stated in his accident report that during landing rollout, he applied left rudder pressure "without effect." The pilot was interviewed by an FAA inspector following the accident. According to the inspector, the pilot told him that he may have inadvertently applied pressure to the rudder pedal rather than to the brake. A functional test of the rudder and brake system was performed at the facilities of the Spanish Fork Flying Service, Spanish Fork, Utah. No discrepancies were noted. According to the pilot's accident report, he had accumulated a total of 7 hours in the PA-18-150, 2 of which were as pilot-in-command. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot had received his FAR 61.31(i) endorsement to act as pilot-in-command of a tailwheel airplane on the day of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:50 MST
Nearest AirportBullfrog Basin Airport (0nm)
Runway19
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN4285Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames M Elegante
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data