# NTSB ATL07CA042: Piper PA-12, N2335M, Elberton, GA, February 11, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 11, 2007, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Elberton, GA
- Coordinates: 34.090557, -82.809448
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0906&lon=-82.8094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: ATL FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65291
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65291/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA042

## Probable cause

The passenger's inadvertent application of the left brake during landing roll, which resulted in a swerve to the left and impact with trees.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent, passenger (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, "Upon landing, [the] rear passenger had [his] foot on the brake causing [the] aircraft to dart to the left."  The pilot  further stated that he could not overcome the braking action with the rudder.  The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with trees. Examination of the left wheel assembly revealed no binding or operational abnormalities with the left brake.  There were no other mechanical problems reported by the pilot, or discovered during the postaccident examination of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, "upon landing, [the] rear passenger had [his] foot on the brake causing [the] aircraft to dart to the left." The pilot  further stated that he could not overcome the braking action with the rudder. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with trees. Both the pilot and passenger reported no injuries.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found both wings substantially damaged. Further examination of the left wheel assembly revealed no binding or operational abnormalities with the left brake. There were no other mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2335M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-12
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1400
- Airframe hours: 1830.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006, 3 hours before
- Departed: GRD, Greenwood, SC
- Destination: 27A, Elberton, GA
- Airport: 27A, Elbert County-Patz Field, runway 28, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 1,484 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,324 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: AND, 24 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20070211001849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070211001849A), Feb 11, 2007: Piper PA12, Elberton, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 11, 2007 at 4:20 pm local time aircraft N2335M, a Piper PA12 attempted to land on runway 28 at (27A) Elbert county airport. The flight…

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.

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