Piper PA-18-150 accident near Eaton, New York, April 29, 2012
On April 29, 2012 at about 10:40 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N82398, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Eaton, New York (Private Strip airport). 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 improper approach to landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2012 · about 10:40 am local time
- Place
- Eaton, New York · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82398 · registry record · serial 18-7709154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he permitted the airplane to get low and slow during short final approach to the runway. He stated that he increased the engine power; however, the engine did not “seem” to immediately respond. Although the pilot tried to stretch the glide to reach the grass airstrip, the airplane skimmed the river water in front of the strip, and the airplane impacted an adjacent riverbank and came to rest inverted at the beginning of the grass strip, incurring substantial damage to the vertical empennage section. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the pilot’s certification showed that his last medical certificate was issued in February 2007, and was expired when the accident occurred.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,210 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 17, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 744 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oriskany NJ at 10:20 am
- Destination: Eaton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from RME, 22 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.