Piper PA18A-150 accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, July 1, 2020
On July 1, 2020 at about 12:55 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA18A-150, registered N7684D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Brainerd, Minnesota (Thiesse airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land on a shortened field and his incorrect brake application. Contributing was the flight instructor's lack of oversight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2020 · about 12:55 pm local time
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota · Thiesse · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18A-150, built 1957 · all PA18A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7684D · registry record · serial 18-5906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction to satisfy insurance requirements. They decided to fly to the instructor's home and land in a field behind his house. They made a low pass and noted that there was a slight ditch with some water in it about halfway down the field. They landed beyond the ditch and the pilot noticed some trees at the end of the field that were getting closer. The pilot believed the tail was still flying when he applied slight braking to slow down. The airplane struck a bump, or bounced, and nosed over, causing substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, the engine, and the propeller. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.
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 (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 224 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 19, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BRD Brainerd MN at 12:00 pm
- Destination: BRD Brainerd MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,500 ft by 500 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from BRD, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 7, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-operator Aircraft Accident-incident Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Location | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.