No fatalities

10 Jun 2015: PIPER PA 16 NO SERIES — SICKEL MASON L — Tollville, AR

Tollville, AR, United States

On 10 Jun 2015, a PIPER PA 16 NO SERIES operated by SICKEL MASON L was involved in an aviation accident near Tollville, AR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane impacting a rice field and nosing over. 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

During a night landing on an unlit airstrip, the pilot lost visual of the runway during flare, causing the airplane to veer right into a rice field and nose over, resulting in substantial damage.

Accident Overview

A pilot reported an accident while landing on an unlit airstrip. During the final approach, the pilot executed a flare but lost sight of the runway. The airplane veered to the right, struck a rice field, and nosed over. The right wing and lift strut sustained substantial damage.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further noted that the accident may have been mitigated by landing on a lit runway and conducting a wheel landing instead of a three-point landing, which would have allowed the pilot to maintain visual contact with the runway until the main wheels were on the ground.

Damage and Circumstances

The accident occurred during a night approach to an unlit airstrip. The airplane impacted a rice field adjacent to the runway. The substantial damage was limited to the right wing and lift strut. No other details were provided regarding injuries or other damage.

Investigation Notes

No official probable cause has been determined. The report is based solely on the pilot's account.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome