Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL accident near Coeur D' Alene, Idaho, May 11, 2021
On May 11, 2021 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1950 Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, registered N7296K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Coeur D' Alene, Idaho (Coeur D' Alene-Pappy Boyington airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, and the flight instructors delayed remedial action which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2021 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D' Alene, Idaho · Coeur D' Alene-Pappy Boyington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, built 1950 · all PA-18-105 SPECIALs on the register
- Registration
- N7296K · registry record · serial 18-210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during a 3-point landing, with the student pilot at the flight controls, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left and exited the runway. The flight instructor applied full brakes to no avail. The airplane struck a berm, collapsed the left main landing gear and the left wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the surface. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,395 hours in all; 1,166 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3,332 as pilot in command; 1,576 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 11, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2021; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,892 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID05 Coeur D' Alene ID at 6:00 pm
- Destination: COE Couer D' Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KCOE
Weather report (METAR): KCOE 111756Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM CLR 17/02 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP232 T01670017 10167 20033 58004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | 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.