N7670H

Substantial
Minor

PIPER PA-12S/N: 12-549

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, August 9, 2009
NTSB Number
WPR09CA394
Location
Sisters, OR
Event ID
20090812X54213
Coordinates
44.304443, -121.539169
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
12-549
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1946
Model / ICAO
PA-12PA12
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
3
FAA Model
PA-12

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
ROBINSON ERIC C
Address
PO BOX 1705
City
PALMER
State / Zip Code
AK 99645-1705
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane to maximum gross weight to feel the aircraft’s flight characteristics while practicing maneuvers. After practicing some stalls and slow flight, he approached the airport to land. He said he flew a slightly higher approach speed in consideration of the increased weight. The pilot stated the windsock was hanging down with no indication of a crosswind during his approach. He made a normal landing that was true and straight, but had a slightly longer than normal roll out. As excess speed bled off, the left wing started to rise. The pilot applied left aileron and left rudder to correct the problem. He looked up and realized he was veering off the runway to the right. He applied braking but departed the asphalt onto very soft sand/dirt at approximately 25 knots. The aircraft nosed over. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent and wrinkled; the left wing struts were bent and the right upper wing root was buckled. The nearest weather reporting facility, located 17 nautical miles to the east of the accident site, was recording calm winds at the time of the accident.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA394