# Accident 20190323001849A: Piper PA-12, Mecosta, MI, March 23, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2019, 10:30 local time
- Place: Mecosta, MI
- Airport: Canadian Lakes
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5769° N, 85.2839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5769&lon=-85.2839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2733M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2733M-2021-01-08) (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 PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 450 total, 70 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190323001849A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 23, 2019 AT 1030 EASTERN, A PIPER PA-12 AIRCRAFT, N2733M, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED A RUNWAY MARKER CONE AND A FLAG POLE DURING LANDING AT CANADIAN LAKES AIRPORT (0C5), MECOSTA COUNTY, MICHIGAN. BOTH THE PILOT AND SINGLE PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND VERY LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE PAUL C. MILLER AIRPORT (8D4), SPARTA, MICHIGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 0900L.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS LANDING TO THE NORTH ON THE 3,800 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD REACT, THE TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A RUNWAY MARKER CONE MID-FIELD. FOLLOWING THE IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHT WING MADE CONTACT WITH A STEEL FLAG POLE APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM THE BROKEN FLAG POLE. BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EGRESS FROM THE WRECKAGE WITHOUT INJURY. UPON INVESTIGATION THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING WITH AFT IMPACT DAMAGE MID LENGTH TWISTING THE WINGTIP 90 DEGREES UP. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD BEEN BREACHED AND A STRONG ODOR OF AVGAS COULD BE DETECTED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD RESPONDED AND SPRAYED THE WRECKAGE WITH AFFF. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BUCKLED AND FOLDED OUTWARD. THE LEFT WING STRUTS WERE ALSO BUCKLED WITH THE WINGTIP ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPACT DAMAGE. THE MAIN FUSELAGE REMAINED INTACT AS WELL AS THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. THE PROPELLER TIPS SHOWED SIGNS OF IMPACT SCRATCHING WITH AFT BENDING. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

WEATHER REPORT AT KRQB AIRPORT AT 1455 UTC WAS: WIND 250 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 0 DEW POINT 7 AND ALTIMETER 3029.

## 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 GAA19CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA178), Mar 23, 2019: Piper PA 12 (N2733M), Mecosta, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in impact with a windsock pole.

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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