Piper PA 20 N7409K

Summary

On 12 July 2019 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA 20 registered N7409K was involved in an accident near Hamilton, Montana, United States. One person was 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

12 July 2019 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hamilton, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Ravalli County (6S5)

Coordinates

46.2514, -114.1256

Aircraft

Piper PA 20

Registration

N7409K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1950

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hamilton → Hamilton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA408

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's loss of directional control due to his unintentional use of brakes instead of the rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, upon landing and approaching the taxiway he intended to exit, he lifted his feet from the "rudderbars" to engage the brakes. The airplane abruptly entered a left turn, and he thought he used the right rudder, but he mistakenly used brake pedal. Immediately thereafter, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believes the accident could have been avoided "if [he] had kept [his] feet on the rudderbars until [the airplane] had exited the runway."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.