# Accident 20260919012079A: Piper PA-12, Salem, OR, September 19, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2026, 18:53 local time
- Place: Salem, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.9661° N, 122.9225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9661&lon=-122.9225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4139M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4139M) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 412 total, 3 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA350) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260919012079A

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM OR87 (BLUE SKIES FARM), UTILIZING RUNWAY 19 TO THE SOUTH. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A SCENIC FLIGHT TO THE EAST, MAKING A LEFT TURN TOWARD THE NORTH AND PROCEEDING TOWARD SILVERTON AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET. THE FLIGHT LASTED APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES.

UPON RETURNING TO O88, THE PILOT APPROACHED AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 01 TO THE NORTH. THE PILOT REPORTED A SLIGHT HEADWIND AND OTHERWISE CLEAR, CALM CONDITIONS. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN FIRST. THE PILOT REPORTED APPLYING RUDDER INPUTS DURING THE LANDING, FOLLOWED BY A SLIGHT POWER APPLICATION.

THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND ENTERED THE ADJACENT DIRT AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE PILOT REPORTED INADVERTENTLY HAVING HIS HEELS POSITIONED ON THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER.

## 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 WPR26LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA350), Sep 20, 2026: Piper PA-12 (N4139M), Salem, OR, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N4139M (2)

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

- [Incident 19990126011889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990126011889I), Jan 26, 1999: Piper PA12 (N4139M), Warroad, MN, Minor damage. On landing rollout aircraft veered to the right, impacting 2 foot snow drift and flipped over, minor damage and no injuries. Pilot stated that passenger amy…
- [Incident 19840803054239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840803054239I), Aug 3, 1984: Piper PA46310P (N4139M), San Jose, CA. Partial electric failure with unsafe gear light. Landed normal. Found battery was discharged.

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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