Piper PA 18 N8461D

Summary

On 31 July 2014 at about 18:35 local time, a Piper PA 18 registered N8461D was involved in an accident near Traverse City, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2014 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Traverse City, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Cherry Capital (TVC)

Coordinates

44.7417, -85.5817

Aircraft

Piper PA 18

Registration

N8461D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indian River → Traverse City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA404

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and the airplane nosing over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the tailwheel equipped airplane "pulled left" during landing and he was unable to correct in time to prevent a runway excursion. He noted that he should not have used the brakes when he realized that the airplane was going off the runway, which might have prevented the airplane from nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and right elevator. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions related to the airplane before the accident. He reported a left quartering headwind at 13 knots at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.