Piper PA-18-150 accident near Lake Placid, FL

On June 20, 2008, a Piper PA-18-150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lake Placid, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

June 20, 2008

Place

Lake Placid, FL

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

27.246°N, 81.413°W

NTSB ID

20080710X01004

Official records · NYC08LA221

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 20, 2008, about 1210 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N988PC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at Placid Lakes Airport (09FA), Lake Placid, Florida. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The aerial observation flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was based at 09FA. The accident pilot began fueling the airplane shortly before 1100, but at some point the fuel nozzle broke, and fuel was spilled on the airplane. The husband of the airport manager reported that he was notified by his wife at 1100 that the nozzle was broken, and that he completed the repair by 1130. Witness reports indicated that the airplane departed on the accident flight shortly after being fueled, with the express purpose of locating a specific bear tracking collar, and that the accident flight was only about 1/2 hour in duration. The husband of the airport manager was the only person to witness the return of the airplane to 09FA. He reported that he saw the airplane fly south along the north-south runway at a height which he variously estimated to be between 40 and 100 feet above the ground. When the airplane neared the south end of the runway, the witness heard the engine rpm increase, and saw the airplane conduct an abrupt pull up, followed by a turn to the left and a rapid descent. He described the maneuver as a "drastic left bank." At that point, the airplane disappea

Probable cause

The pilot’s performance of a nonstandard abrupt maneuver at low altitude, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.