Piper PA18 N68EE

Summary

On 4 June 2020 at about 22:20 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N68EE was involved in an accident near Cadillac, Michigan, 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

4 June 2020 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Cadillac, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Wexford County (CAD)

Coordinates

44.2753, -85.4189

Aircraft

Piper PA18

Registration

N68EE

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cadillac → Pierson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA213

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the float-equipped airplane after the float became caught on the trailer used for takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff in the float-equipped airplane from a trailer pulled down the runway by a truck. He reported that there was a direct crosswind from the right at 7 knots. As the truck’s speed increased, the airplane shifted on the trailer and the left float contacted a vertical post that blocked the float from contacting the tire. As the airplane attempted to depart the trailer, the float chine caught on the trailer and turned the airplane toward the ground. The left wing struck the ground first, followed by the floats, propeller, and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.