Piper PA-18-150 N2553S

Summary

On 10 January 2009 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N2553S was involved in an accident near Elrosa, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were 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

10 January 2009 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Elrosa, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

45.5625, -94.9478

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N2553S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Litchfield → Litchfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA130

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain control after touchdown on a snow-covered runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot elected to attempt a landing in a snow-covered field. The tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down on the main wheels in a "tail low" attitude. The pilot did not initially realize that the snow was too soft and deep. He added full power and pulled back on the stick, but he was unable to prevent the airplane from nosing over. It slid for approximately 7 feet before coming to rest. After the accident, the pilot determined that the snow was about 14 inches deep. He commented that although the airplane was equipped with large diameter tires, the snow was too deep. He reported that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged when the airplane nosed over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.