No fatalities

13 Sep 2009: PIPER PA-20 — PACER N7705K LLC — Herlong, FL

Herlong, FL, United States

On 13 Sep 2009, a PIPER PA-20 operated by PACER N7705K LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Herlong, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper visual lookout while taxing on soft terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot overflew a grass strip to check conditions, then landed without incident. While taxiing, the nose gear got stuck in soft terrain, causing the aircraft to flip over and sustain substantial wing spar damage.

Incident Overview

A private pilot conducted a landing on a grass strip adjacent to an asphalt runway. Before landing, the pilot overflew the grass area to assess its condition for a safe touchdown. The landing itself was completed without incident.

Taxiway Transition

After landing, the pilot began transitioning the aircraft from the grass runway onto the taxiway. During this maneuver, the aircraft's nose gear became stuck in soft terrain. The sudden resistance caused the aircraft to flip over.

Damage Assessment

The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Background

The pilot had chosen to land on the grass strip, likely for reasons related to the specific flight operation. The terrain on the grass strip and its adjacent taxiway area apparently had soft spots that were not anticipated during the landing roll.

Conclusion of Events

The sequence of events—uneventful landing followed by a nose gear entanglement and flip during taxi—highlights the importance of assessing ground conditions beyond the landing zone. No further details were provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, or pilot experience.

Contributing factors

Response/compensationPilot