Accident Details
On August 10, 2016, at approximately 0730 eastern daylight time, a Piper J5C airplane, registration N30313, struck a ditch after landing at Sandusky City Airport (Y83) in Sandusky, Michigan. The aircraft was operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Dupont-Lapeer Airport (D95) in Lapeer, Michigan, around 0630.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts
The pilot reported making a full-stop landing on runway 18 after arriving at Y83, then departing and re-entering the traffic pattern to land on runway 36. The pilot noted that the touchdown was normal, but the airplane veered to the right and entered a ditch. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation and had no further recollection of the accident sequence.
The pilot-rated passenger, seated in the rear, described a stable approach but said that during landing the airplane "bounced pretty good," becoming airborne again. The airplane bounced two to three times, veered right, gained altitude, then dropped into the ditch. The passenger did not recall the right wing contacting anything before the ditch impact and had no additional memory of the sequence.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident and found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the impact with the ditch.
Injuries
The private-rated pilot sustained minor injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries.