The pilot of the tandem-seat Piper PA-18 was high while on final approach to land at the airport in Lake Placid, Florida, so he induced a slip to lose altitude before landing.
Due to the forward pitch of the airplane during the slip, the aft seat cushion slid forward and lodged between the seat frame and control stick. The pilot applied back pressure on the control stick to flare the airplane and slow the descent, but the control stick was blocked by the seat cushion.
The airplane continued to descend, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, as well as minor injuries to the pilot.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the aft seat cushion was adequately secured, which resulted in its movement, subsequent interference with the flight controls, and a hard landing.
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This February 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Good time for a “go around” to remove the cushion and toss it in the baggage area.
Would’ve been difficult to go around….
“He stated that “when it came time to pull back on the stick, the stick was jammed”. He stated that he had forward travel on the control stick, but once he transitioned into the flare the control stick would not travel backwards and at that point, he was very close to the runway, which resulted in a hard landing.”
How to pitch up the stick with the sit cushions below it? Going around only relying in power?