Casualties unknown

Pilot Overcorrects During Hard Landing Resulting in Tree Strike (N2CE)

Aiken, SC, US

On August 25, 1996, a Piper J3 (registration N2CE) was involved in an aviation accident near Aiken, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent application of the right brake during a hard landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a subsequent collision with trees during the aborted landing attempt. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot attempted to abort a landing after his right foot inadvertently pressed the brake, causing an uncontrolled turn into trees during the go-around maneuver.

What happened

The incident occurred during the landing phase of flight. According to the pilot's account, he executed a hard landing upon touchdown. During this event, his right foot inadvertently made contact with the right brake pedal. This unintended pressure caused the aircraft to yaw sharply to the right, directing it toward a line of trees near the runway.

Recognizing the deviation from the intended flight path, the pilot decided to abort the landing and initiate a go-around. However, as the aircraft began to climb and turn to the right, it struck trees before it could regain stable flight conditions. The impact resulted in significant damage to the airframe.

The investigation

Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the aircraft to determine if any mechanical failures contributed to the event. The inspection focused on the braking system and the primary flight controls. The examination revealed no pre-impact discrepancies with the brakes or flight controls. This finding indicated that the systems were functioning mechanically as designed at the time of the incident.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll. The inadvertent application of the right brake, combined with the subsequent overcorrection during the aborted landing attempt, led to the collision with the trees. The mechanical integrity of the aircraft was confirmed, isolating the cause to human factors and operational error during a critical phase of flight.

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent application of the right brake during a hard landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a subsequent collision with trees during the aborted landing attempt.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X06586. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.