On 29 Feb 2020, a Piper PA 18 125 was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Barbara, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a rapid descent rate, hard landing, and nose-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a landing approach to a ridgeline airstrip, the airplane encountered a sink at about 15 ft AGL, touched down hard short of the touchdown point, and nosed over, causing substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.
Incident Summary
A pilot reported that during a landing approach to a ridgeline airstrip, he deployed full wing flaps and descended toward the touchdown point. At approximately 15 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered a downdraft or sink that the pilot failed to recognize and correct. He also noted that the approach speed was too slow for the unstable air conditions, which likely increased the rate of descent.
Sequence of Events
The airplane touched down hard, short of the intended touchdown point, and subsequently nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The hard landing and nose-over resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and the empennage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The incident was attributed to the pilot's inability to recognize and arrest the sink and the slower-than-appropriate approach speed given the unstable air.
Contributing factors
PilotIncorrect use/operationDescent rate — Not attained/maintained