Piper PA-18-150 accident near Elrosa, Minnesota, January 10, 2009
On January 10, 2009 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N2553S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Elrosa, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain control after touchdown on a snow-covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2009 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elrosa, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2553S · no longer on the register · serial 18-7909159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot elected to attempt a landing in a snow-covered field. The tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down on the main wheels in a "tail low" attitude. The pilot did not initially realize that the snow was too soft and deep. He added full power and pulled back on the stick, but he was unable to prevent the airplane from nosing over. It slid for approximately 7 feet before coming to rest. After the accident, the pilot determined that the snow was about 14 inches deep. He commented that although the airplane was equipped with large diameter tires, the snow was too deep. He reported that there were no malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged when the airplane nosed over.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 745 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 9, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,798 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LJF Litchfield MN at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Litchfield MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 4:33 pm from GHW, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2553S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.