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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 7, 2003 · Piper PA-18 · N18141

Moran, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 7, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Moran, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N18141
Operator
Robert B Butler
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW03LA126

While landing at a private grass airstrip, the single-engine airplane touched down short of the runway. The airplane bounced, drifted right and struck a 7-foot tall mesquite tree. The aircraft came to rest on its nose, approximately 20 feet past the tree.

NTSB Probable Cause

Landing short of the runway due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in the airplane impacting a tree. A contributing factor was the short runway.

Full Narrative

On April 7, 2003, approximately 1740 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18 tailwheel-equipped airplane, N18141, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree while landing at a private airstrip near Moran, Texas. The airplane was registered to two private individuals and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Ranger, Texas, at 1730. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that while landing to the west, the airplane touched down about 10 feet short of the 800-foot grass runway. The airplane bounced, drifted right and struck a 7-foot tall mesquite tree. The aircraft came to rest on its nose, approximately 20 feet past the tree. The pilot added that the left wing tip and aileron were damaged. The right wing leading edge outboard of the wing strut was dented, and the underside of the right wing had several tears in the fabric. The pilot stated that the wind was from 290 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:40 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm)
Runway270
Runway Length800 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN18141
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert B Butler
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data