# Accident 20060922022209A: Piper PA12, Orient, ME, September 22, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2006, 13:30 local time
- Place: Orient, ME
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7892° N, 67.8175° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7892&lon=-67.8175&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4459M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4459M-2009-02-09) (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 NYC06LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060922022209A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, ABOUT 1330 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-12-12, N4459M, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE GROUND ON HALFMOON ISLAND, AFTER TAKEOFF FROM PETERS COVE, ON EAST GRAND LAKE IN ORIENT, MAINE. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT RECEIVED A COMPUTER WEATHER BRIEFING AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE SIGHTSEEING/PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT OF THE PASSENGER'S RESIDENCE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LAKE. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE PILOT SAID HE COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND PUMPED WATER FROM THE FLOATS. HE TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE DOCK LOCATED AT HIS CAMP. THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST WAS COMPLETED WITH NO SIGN OR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS. THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED ON AN EASTERLY HEADING FOR A WESTERLY DEPARTURE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. ON TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS NOT SURE ON THE ROTATION SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT BROKE WATER BUT STATED HIS CLIMB OUT AIRSPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 KNOTS AND 65 KNOTS. AT 700 TO 800 FEET THE PILOT INITIATED A SHALLOW LEFT TURN TO STAY BETWEEN THE MAIN SHORELINE OF THE LAKE AND HALFMOON ISLAND JUST IN CASE THE AIRCRAFT HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE HE COULD LAND BACK ON THE WATER. IN THE LEFT TURN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT UP. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NO AILERON CONTROL AND DID NOT NOTICE IF THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING OR NOT. THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NO INDICATION THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE PASSENGER, A NON RATED PILOT SAID THE PILOT INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND TAXIED FOR DEPARTURE. THE PASSENGER INDICATED THE MAGNETOS WERE CHECKED BEFORE TAKEOFF AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FEET THE PILOT INITIATED A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. AT THAT POINT A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT UP. THE PASSENGER DID NOT NOTICE ANY UNUSUAL PITCH CHANGES TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PASSENGER INDICATED JUST BEFORE IMPACT THE AIRSPEED WAS INCREASING. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, THE WITNESS STATED SHE WAS SITTING IN A CHAIR BY THE WINDOW AT THE CAMP TALKING TO HER MOTHER AND SISTER WHEN SHE HEARD THE SOUND OF AN AIRPLANE. SHE LOOKED TOWARDS HALFMOON ISLAND AND SAW THE FLOAT PLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE. SHE DID NOT THINK THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT OVER THE TREE LINE OF THEISLAND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WINGS LEVEL DESCENT. 5 MINUTES OR SO LATER, THE BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN RISING FROM THE ISLAND. THE WITNESS CALLED HER HUSBAND WHO IN TURN CALLED 911. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES, 47.343 MINUTES NORTH LATITUDE, AND 67 DEGREES, 49.052 WEST LONGITUDE.

## 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 NYC06LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA228), Sep 22, 2006: Piper PA-12 (N4459M), Orient, ME, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor was his inadequate weight and balance calculations and the gusty wind…

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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