Piper PA 18A 150 N7860D

Summary

On 25 August 2014 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA 18A 150 registered N7860D, operated by Walla Walla University, was involved in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington, 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

25 August 2014 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Walla Walla, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.0947, -118.2889

Aircraft

Piper PA 18A 150

Registration

N7860D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

1

Operator

Walla Walla University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

College Place → Walla Walla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA378

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged approach which resulted in overshooting the landing point and insufficient remaining landing surface.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he overflew an open field that he intended to conduct an off airport landing on. He stated that the field was of sufficient length and had a suitable landing surface. During the landing, the tailwheel equipped airplane touched down longer than the pilot had intended and he intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid traveling down a ravine. During the accident sequence, the left wing sustained substantial damage. 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.