Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-18 N8553C

12 February 2002 · Winter Haven, Florida, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 12 February 2002 at about 15:15 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N8553C, operated by Andrew Wagner Thornal. Jr, was involved in an accident near Winter Haven, Florida, United States. One person was 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.

The record

Date
at 15:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Winter Haven, Florida, United States
Nearest airport
Gilbert (GIF)
Coordinates
28.0572, -81.7567
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Registration
N8553C
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Andrew Wagner Thornal. Jr
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Winterhaven → Lake Eloise
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL02LA047

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare during an attempted landing on water. A factor was glassy water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A seaplane collided with water during an attempted glassy water landing. The pilot said he misjudged his altitude and flared prematurely during the flare to touchdown. The left wing dropped and contacted the water. The airplane cartwheeled, and the right wing contacted the water as well.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-18 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 May 2002 Piper PA-18-150
N4151F
Middleville, New York, United States - Minor injuries -
13 Jun 2002 Piper PA-18
N1888A
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Uriah Strong No injuries -
19 Aug 2002 Piper PA-18
N1277A
Newberg, Oregon, United States - No injuries -
25 Mar 2002 Piper PA-18-150
N22EV
Fort Peck, Montana, United States - Serious injuries -
14 Aug 2002 Piper PA-18
N4065Z
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - Fatal 2
27 Jan 2002 Piper PA-18-150
N4379Z
Eagle Point, Oregon, United States - No injuries -

All 2,950 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Nov 2002 Cessna 182Q
N95745
Orlando, Florida, United States - Minor injuries -
12 Jun 2002 Agusta A119
N911SL
Okeechobee, Florida, United States - No injuries -
20 Sep 2002 Cessna 172P
N612CB
Lutz, Florida, United States Troy Mason Heidel No injuries -
21 Sep 2002 Beagle B-206 SERIES 2
N86GW
McAlpin, Florida, United States - Fatal 1
17 Jan 2002 Mooney M20J
N201XL
Lake Placid, Florida, United States - Minor injuries -
15 Jun 2002 Piper PA-46-310P
N9143B
Osteen, Florida, United States - Fatal 3

All 170,864 records in United States