Event CEN16LA029

Factual narrative

On November 3, 2015, about 1442 eastern standard time, a Piper model PA-18-150 single-engine airplane, N9029Y, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during an aborted landing at Meyers-Diver's Airport (3TE), Tecumseh, Michigan. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that had departed 3TE about 1320.The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was landing on runway 27 (1,820 feet by 100 feet, grass/turf). He reported that he made a normal wheel (two-point) landing; however, as the airplane traversed over the crossing runway 18/36 (asphalt), the airplane bounced back into the air near midfield. He increased engine power after the bounce and subsequently made a full-stall (three-point) landing on the remaining runway. The pilot reported that the airplane immediately veered to the left after the tailwheel made contact with the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway into a grass field. The pilot reported that he was able to regain directional control and reestablish a ground track that was parallel to the runway before he attempted an aborted landing from the grass field. Although he was able to get the airplane airborne, the pilot was unable to clear trees that were located along an airport perimeter road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the collision with the trees. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported that the accident likely could have been prevented had he attempted to stop the airplane while in the grass field instead of trying to abort the landing. A postaccident airplane examination, completed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Inspector, did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane's flight controls, brake system, or tail wheel assembly that would have prevented normal operation. At 1453, the automated surface observing system at the Lenawee County Airport (ADG), located about 11 miles south-southwest of the accident site, reported: wind 180 degrees at 7 knots, surface visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 7 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. The airline transport pilot reported that he made a normal wheel (two-point) landing; however, as the airplane traversed the airport's crossing runway, the airplane bounced into the air near midfield. He increased engine power after the bounce and subsequently made a full-stall (three-point) landing on the remaining runway. The airplane immediately veered left after the tailwheel contacted the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway into a grass field. The pilot reported that he was able to regain directional control and reestablish a ground track that was parallel to the runway before he attempted to abort the landing and take off from the grass field. Although he was able to get the airplane airborne, the pilot was unable to clear trees located along an airport perimeter road. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, a postaccident airplane examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane's flight controls, brake system, or tailwheel assembly that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot reported that the accident likely could have been prevented if he had attempted to stop the airplane in the grass field instead of trying to abort the landing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C