EPHRATA, WA, USA
N8109Y
Piper PA-18
The pilot stated that he was landing off-airport to pick up some parts at a parts house. The landing was made on a driveway, which was 500 feet long and 20 feet wide. During the landing, the aircraft 'snagged a rock' and nosed over, causing substantial damage. The pilot stated that turbulence moved the aircraft to the left side of the driveway, where it impacted the rock. Also, he said that heavy braking and impacting the rock caused the aircraft to go over on its back. The pilot noted that the accident could have been avoided 'by not landing here.'
On August 13, 1996, approximately 1040 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N8109Y, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after impacting an object during the landing roll in a driveway near Ephrata, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which had originated at Ephrata , Washington, airport at 1020. The pilot stated that he was landing off-airport to pick up some parts at a parts house. During the landing roll on the driveway, which had a 500 by 20 foot landing area, the aircraft "snagged a rock" and nosed over, causing substantial damage. The pilot stated that turbulence moved the aircraft to the left side of the driveway, where a rock was impacted. He said that heavy braking and impacting the rock caused the aircraft to go over on its back. The pilot noted in his accident report that the accident could have been avoided "by not landing here."
failure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment with the landing area (driveway) during the landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the selection of an unsuitable area for landing, the reported turbulence during landing, and an encounter with a rock beside the landing area, while using heavy braking action.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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