Piper PA18A-150 N7684D

Summary

On 1 July 2020 at about 12:55 local time, a Piper PA18A-150 registered N7684D was involved in an accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were 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

1 July 2020 at 12:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Brainerd, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Thiesse (None)

Coordinates

46.3064, -94.1764

Aircraft

Piper PA18A-150

Registration

N7684D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brainerd → Brainerd

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA255

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to land on a shortened field and his incorrect brake application. Contributing was the flight instructor's lack of oversight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction to satisfy insurance requirements. They decided to fly to the instructor's home and land in a field behind his house. They made a low pass and noted that there was a slight ditch with some water in it about halfway down the field. They landed beyond the ditch and the pilot noticed some trees at the end of the field that were getting closer. The pilot believed the tail was still flying when he applied slight braking to slow down. The airplane struck a bump, or bounced, and nosed over, causing substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, the engine, and the propeller. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.