Amateur-built PIETNPOL AIRCAMPER accident near Toledo, Ohio, October 18, 2009
On October 18, 2009 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETNPOL AIRCAMPER, registered N6186L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Toledo, Ohio (Metcalf Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2009 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Toledo, Ohio · Metcalf Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETNPOL AIRCAMPER
- Registration
- N6186L · registry record · serial 002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was conducting takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern at the time of the accident. He added that he had been dealing with "moderate turbulence from thermals and the shifting winds" during the flight. The pilot stated that the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline during the landing flare. He reported that, as the left main wheel touched down, a gust of wind from the right caused the airplane to depart the left side of the runway. He was "only able to maintain enough control to prevent a ground loop but not sufficient to avoid clipping the runway light with the horizontal stabilizer." A postaccident inspection revealed substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 94 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 183 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Talon Aero LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TDZ Toledo OH at 5:00 pm
- Destination: TDZ Toledo OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,799 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from TDZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.