# Accident 20230204000419A: Piper PA-12, Porterville, UT, February 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2023, 22:10 local time
- Place: Porterville, UT
- Airport: Field Of Dreams
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9721° N, 111.7044° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9721&lon=-111.7044&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3969B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3969B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,434 total, 218 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA103) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230204000419A

## Narrative

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

ON 02/04/2023, THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^OF A 1946 PIPER PA-12 AIRPLANE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^N3969B^ WAS FLYING HIS AIRPLANE IN THE BACK COUNTRY NEAR PORTERVILLE, UTAH. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A PART 91 PERSONAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AND TOOK OFF FROM OGDEN, UTAH AIRPORT (OGD) AT APPROXIMATELY 14:40(L). THE PILOT FLEW TOWARD MORGAN, UTAH AND THEN PROCEEDED SOUTHBOUND THROUGH THE MORGAN VALLEY. THE PILOT OVERFLEW A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP (15UT - FIELD OF DREAMS) AND NOTICED FRESH AIRCRAFT TRACKS ON THE SNOW-COVERED AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT MADE A LOW APPROACH OVER THE AIRSTRIP TO DETERMINE IF THE TRACKS WERE MADE BY AIRCRAFT TIRES OR SKIS AND TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION AND NATURE OF THE SNOW ON THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT MADE TWO LOW PASSES OVER THE AIRSTRIP AND THEN DECIDED TO EXECUTE A THIRD PASS TO DETERMINE IF THE CONDITIONS AND DEPTH OF THE SNOW ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MADE A FINAL APPROACH TO RWY08 AND PLACED THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS TO HALF FLAPS. DURING THE LOW APPROACH, THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE SNOW SURFACE IMMEDIATELY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH FORWARD DRIVING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS FURTHER INTO THE SNOW ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY FULL POWER AND NOSE THE AIRCRAFT UP BUT THE FORWARD MOMENTUM HAD ALREADY STARTED THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED FORWARD AND CAME TO A STOP INVERTED ON THE AIRSTRIP.  THE AIRCRAFT'S ELT WARNING DEVICE ACTIVATED UPON IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO SELF-EXTRACT HIMSELF AND HIS DOG FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE AIR FORCE RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER SHORTLY AFTER EXTRACTING HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT THEN CALLED THE MORGAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WAS DISPATCHED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SNOW ON THE RUNWAY APPEARED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 2 ½ FEET IN DEPTH.

## 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 WPR23LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA103), Feb 4, 2023: Piper PA-12 (N3969B), Porterville, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.

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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