Piper PA-18-125 N1322A

Summary

On 13 April 1991 at about 22:05 local time, a Piper PA-18-125 registered N1322A, operated by Erlend D. Laird, was involved in an accident near Ekalaka, Montana, 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

13 April 1991 at 22:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Ekalaka, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.7704, -104.5093

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-125

Registration

N1322A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Erlend D. Laird

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA91LA085

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LANDING SURFACE WAS COVERED WITH SLUSH, SNOW WAS FALLING AND OBSCURED THE PILOT'S VISION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AT THE END OF A LOAL FLIGHT, THE WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED SO THAT LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING. THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRSTRIP WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. INSTEAD OF LANDING ON THE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT OPTED TO LAND ON A ROAD THAT RAN ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP. DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE SLUSH COVERED ROAD, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND COLLIDED INTO A DITCH AND NOSED OVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.