Piper PA-18 N5429H

Summary

On 22 September 1990 at about 18:20 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N5429H was involved in an accident near Midfield, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 September 1990 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Midfield, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.4607, -86.9203

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N5429H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jasper → Elba

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90LA175

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE ASSESSMENT OF DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS RESULTANT FLIGHT INTO AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS. THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE FLIGHT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS, HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A GRASSY FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN TALL GRASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE WEATHER WITH A FSS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, WITH VFR CONDITIONS FORECAST. SCHEUDLED OBSERVATIONS REPORTED VFR CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE TERRAIN WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE WAS HILLY AND SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN ELEVATION THAN AT THE WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY. THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.