# Accident 20230922014809A: Piper PA-12, Eatonville, WA, September 22, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Eatonville, WA
- Airport: Swanson
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8717° N, 122.2572° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8717&lon=-122.2572&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7955H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7955H) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 256 total, 23 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA356) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230922014809A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS TAKING OFF TO THE NORTH ON RUNWAY 34. AS THE PILOT LIFTED OF THE RUNWAY, HE WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND THAT PICKED UP THE LEFT WING WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER TO HIT THE GROUND CAUSING A HIGH-SPEED GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT PULLED THE THROTTLE BACK, BUT THE MOMENTUM CARRIED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND ONTO A VACANT LOT ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY AND HIT A BERM THAT COLLAPSED THE RIGHT GEAR.

## 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 WPR23LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA356), Sep 22, 2023: Piper PA-12 (N7955H), Eatonville, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Other reports on N7955H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19810704037949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810704037949I), Jul 4, 1981: Piper PA12 (N7955H), Denton, NC, Minor damage. Landed long on downhill runway. Ran off departure end. .

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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