Piper PA 18-150 accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, November 3, 2015
On November 3, 2015 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1970 Piper PA 18-150, registered N9029Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tecumseh, Michigan (Meyers-Diver'S Airport). 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing and his subsequent improper decision to attempt an aborted landing after the airplane had departed the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2015 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tecumseh, Michigan · Meyers-Diver'S Airport · 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, built 1970 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N9029Y · registry record · serial 18-8905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 44,020 hours in all; 2,840 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 22, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,840 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TE Tecumseh MI at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 3TE Tecumseh MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,820 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from ADG, 11 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.
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.