# Accident 20230731008939A: Piper PA-12, Myrtle Beach, SC, July 31, 2023 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 31, 2023, 11:30 local time - Place: Myrtle Beach, SC - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: 84MJ - Location: 33.6954° N, 78.8802° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6954&lon=-78.8802&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3036M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3036M) (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 0-235 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 3,400 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 400 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA356) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230731008939A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. EON-DRA MESSAGE TEXT: MYRTLE BEACH, SC: STORMER 2, PA18, LOCAL BANNER TOWER, CRASHED INTO THE WATER 4 MILES NE OF MYRTLE BEACH FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. NO GROUND INJURIES REPORTED AND THE AIRCRAFT IS IN SHALLOW WATER. POB: 1, INJURIES: UNKNOWN, DAMAGE: EXTENT UNKNOWN. 07/31/2023 1530Z PILOT STATEMENT: SUBJECT: EMERGENCY WATER LANDING ON 31 JULY 2023 I WAS WORKING AS A BANNER PILOT FOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 I ARRIVED AT OUR HANGAR AND PERFORMED MY PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AFTER BEING PROPPED OFF I TAXIED OUT AND TOOK OFF AFTER RECEIVING THE PROPER CLEARANCE FROM GROUND AND THEN TOWER AT APPROXIMATELY 0955. AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 I DROPPED MY FIRST BANNER AND PICKED UP MY SECOND. I THEN BEGAN FLYING TOWARD KMYR DOWN THE COAST. I TURNED AROUND AND BEGAN MOVING NE AT 500 FT AGL ALONG THE COAST. JUST AFTER PASSING THE 14TH AVE PIER MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE RESTART PROCEDURE KNOWING THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT STARTED WHILE THE PROPELLER WAS STILL TURNING. IT DID RESTART, I THEN MADE ALL MY INFLIGHT CHECKS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK. I WAS HEADING BACK TO KCRE UNITL THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AGAIN. THIS TIME THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, SO I BEGAN LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO LAND WHERE I WOULD NOT INJURE ANYONE BELOW BUT COULD STILL LAND CLOSE TO THE BEACH IN THE WATER AS I KNEW THAT THE BEACH WAS NOT AN OPTION. I SAW ONE OPENING THAT APPEARED TO BE THE BEST SPOT AND GLIDED TOWARD IT WHILE MAINTAINING MY BANNER, WHICH I WAS HOPING WOULD ANCHOR THE PLANE FROM FLIPPING ONCE HITTING THE WATER. UPON REACHING THE AREA, I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE PLANE DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IMPACTING WITH THE WATER. ## 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 ERA23LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA356), Jul 31, 2023: Piper PA-12 (N3036M), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Other reports on N3036M (5) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20190522005039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190522005039I), May 22, 2019: Piper PA-12 (N3036M), North Myrtle Be, SC, No damage. Airman description of events - practicing banner pickups as a new hire in training for barnstormer's aerial advertising. Gusty crosswind conditions from the… - [Accident 20090429007629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090429007629A), Apr 29, 2009: Piper PA12 (N3036M), Georgetown, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 29, 2009 at 1145 a Piper PA-12, N3036M registered to barnstormer flite signs entered a ground loop at Georgetown, SC (gge). The left wing has… - [Incident 20030620013589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030620013589I), Jun 20, 2003: Piper PA12 (N3036M), North Myrtle Be, SC, Minor damage. (-23) Banner tow pilot reported that during landing at north Myrtle beach airport aircraft encountered a gust of wind that caused a hard contact with runway… - [Incident 19960525021499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960525021499I), May 25, 1996: Piper PA12 (N3036M), North Myrtle Be, SC, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot was conducting banner tow operation when engine lost power and entered ocean and going inverted. Pilot exited aircraft with no injury and was… - [Accident 19950726021659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950726021659A), Jul 26, 1995: Piper PA12 (N3036M), North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Started engine by hand propping. No tiedown or chocks. Throttle open. Aircraft ran into a ditch. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.