Piper PA18 N8788D

Summary

On 8 October 2020 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N8788D, operated by County Of Plymouth, was involved in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, 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

8 October 2020 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM)

Coordinates

41.9086, -70.7277

Aircraft

Piper PA18

Registration

N8788D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1958

Engines

1

Operator

County Of Plymouth

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA013

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering gusting headwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 24 with a quartering headwind from the northwest gusting to 20 knots. During the landing roll, the flight encountered wind gusts from the northwest that caused the airplane to “weathercock” to the northwest and the pilot applied full engine power to go around. When the airplane was about 1 ft above ground level, the right main landing gear impacted a taxi light. The airplane then contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.