On 29 Apr 2012, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by JACOBELLI ROBERT W was involved in an aviation accident near Burlington, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that during landing rollout, winds caused the airplane to veer left. Despite right rudder input, it exited the runway and struck a sign, damaging the left wing. No mechanical issues were noted.
Accident Details
The pilot landed the airplane on the runway. During the subsequent landing rollout, wind forces caused the airplane to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying right rudder input. However, the airplane continued turning left, ran off the runway surface, and struck a runway sign. The impact with the sign inflicted substantial damage to the left wing of the aircraft.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's account indicates that the aircraft was functioning as expected prior to the event.
Wind Conditions
The wind recorded at the airport around the time of the accident was from 130 degrees at 5 knots. These conditions were present during the landing and the subsequent excursion.
Contributing factors
Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot