N775PA

Substantial
None

Piper PA-12S/N: 12-2804

Accident Details

Date
Monday, August 2, 2010
NTSB Number
CEN10CA451
Location
Wild Rose, WI
Event ID
20100802X12158
Coordinates
44.197776, -89.217781
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N775PA
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
12-2804
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1947
Model / ICAO
PA-12PA12
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
69 STATE STREET
Status
Deregistered
City
NEWFOLDEN
State / Zip Code
MN 56738
Country
United States

Analysis

The accident occurred while the tail-wheel equipped airplane was accelerating on the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that the airplane's tail became airborne before rotation speed, and was immediately followed by a left yaw/swerve. He attempted to regain directional control with right rudder and brake inputs, but the airplane continued in the left swerve. He elected to abort the takeoff by reducing engine power to idle while continuing to apply right rudder and brake inputs. The pilot stated that he used "aggressive" braking as the airplane approached the left edge of the runway, but the airplane departed the runway and struck several trees. He noted that the turf-runway was dew covered and that the winds were approximately 3 knots from the southwest, with no gusts. The leading edges of both wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged during the accident. A post-accident inspection of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunction of the tailwheel or braking systems.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN10CA451