Piper PA-18-18 N3356B

Summary

On 22 August 1999 at about 01:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-18 registered N3356B was involved in an accident near Eagleville, California, 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

22 August 1999 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Eagleville, California, United States

Coordinates

41.3002, -120.1003

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-18

Registration

N3356B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cedarville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA280

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's encounter with a thunderstorm induced downdraft, which resulted in a high rate of sink, at an altitude insufficient to provide for recovery prior to ground impact. The high density altitude 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 flight's destination is located in a mountain valley. After sightseeing on the southwest side of the valley, the pilot headed north toward the town, where he intended to land and spend the night. About 3 miles south of the town, the aircraft flew over a small ridge, which resulted in the aircraft being about 500 feet agl. The passenger remarked on some corrals on the ground and the pilot performed a 360-degree turn to view the area. During the turn, the pilot noted the airspeed had increased slightly, and, as the aircraft rolled out on a northerly heading, the aircraft suddenly felt like it stalled and entered a rapid descent. The pilot lowered the nose and flared as the aircraft approached the ground. The aircraft landed flat, breaking off the landing gear. The pilot said that shortly after ground impact, a large cloud moved overhead and it began to lightening and rain heavily, with very gusty surface winds. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to ground contact. Based on the pressure altitude and the temperature at a weather reporting station 15 miles east of the site, the density altitude was calculated to be about 7,500 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.