Piper PA-18-150 N83552 accident near Rogers, Arkansas

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to establish a stabilize approach criteria during low-level maneuvering to the runway, which resulted in a hard landing and contact with a hay bale.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while on approach for the runway, he reduced power and made his right turn to final. As the airplane turned, he rolled it back to the left to line up with the runway. The airplane did not respond to the control inputs to the left and it continued to the right side of the runway. The pilot added full power to initiate a go-around but was unable to gain enough altitude to clear a tree and stop the right-hand turn. The pilot pulled the power to idle and landed on the right side of the runway. The airplane landed hard, left of the tree and to the right side of the runway. The left-wing strut contacted a hay bale which resulted in substantial damage to the left-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA314 for the full record.