# Accident 20021212033719A: Piper PA12, Fallon, NV, December 12, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 12, 2002, 16:30 local time
- Place: Fallon, NV
- Airport: Fallon Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5000° N, 118.7500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5000&lon=-118.7500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87800, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87800) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021212033719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON 12/12/02, AT 1630 HOURS, PIPER PA-12, N87800, COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NINE MILES NORTH OF FALLON, NEVADA. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING THE AIRPLANE TO THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER AND WAS SHOWING HIM AN EMERGENCY LANDING PROCEDURE WITH BOTH OF THEM ON THE CONTROLS. HE SAID THEY WERE LOW TO THE GROUND IN A LEFT BANK WHEN THE RUDDER JAMMED OVER CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. HE THINKS THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS SEATING IN THE REAR SEAT, INADVERTENTLY HAD A FOOT ON THE RUDDER PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS TELLING HIM TO LET GO OF THE CONTROLS. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS YAWING BADLY, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO ADD FULL POWER AND LEVEL THE WINGS BEFORE THEY HIT THE GROUND. CONTINUITY OF ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS CHECKED OK AND THE PAPERWORK FOR THE PILOT AND AIRPLANE CHECKED OK.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             (.19) ON DECEMBER 12, 2002, ABOUT 1630 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-12, N87800, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL NEAR FALLON, NEVADA. THE PRIVATE PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PERSONAL LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED FALLON ABOUT 1600. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACCIDENT COORDINATOR INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING THE AIRPLANE FOR SALE. THE PILOT WAS LOW TO THE GROUND IN A LEFT TURN DEMONSTRATING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL FELT JAMMED AND HE ADDED POWER TO CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND LEVEL, AND SHEARED THE LANDING GEAR OFF. THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA049), Dec 13, 2002: Piper PA-12 (N87800), Fallon, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a low altitude maneuver. Contributing factors were the inadequate passenger briefing regarding the flight controls and the passenger's…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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