# NTSB CEN12CA656: Fairchild PT-19A, N19GP, Cape Girardeau, MO, September 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2012, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Cape Girardeau, MO - Coordinates: 37.225276, -89.570831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2253&lon=-89.5708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- St. Louis Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 85143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA656 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85143/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85143 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA656 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during a low approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fairchild PT-19A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3371608), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was giving a promotional ride in conjunction with an upcoming airport open house. At the time of the accident, he was conducting a flour-bomb drop demonstration. The pilot stated that on the third approach, he became distracted and was not fully paying attention to flying the airplane. The airplane got too low and too slow and stalled; the left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was giving a promotional ride in conjunction with an upcoming airport open house. At the time of the accident, he was conducting a flour bomb drop demonstration. The pilot stated that on the third approach he became distracted and was not fully paying attention to flying the airplane. The airplane got too low and too slow on the approach, and inadvertently stalled. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19GP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19GP), registered now, S/N T421844 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD PT-19A - Registry model: [Fairchild PT-19A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-pt-19a) (registry code 3371608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T421844 - Engines: Ranger L-440C-5 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air drop, Part 91 - Operator: PT 19 Group Inc - Registered owner: PT 19 Group Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2012, 10 hours before - Departed: CGI, Cape Girardeau, MO - Destination: CGI, Cape Girardeau, MO - Airport: CGI, Cape Girardeau Regional, runway 10, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: CGI, 1 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 20120913028959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120913028959A), Sep 13, 2012: Fairchild PT-19A, Cape Girardeau, MO, Substantial damage. * Description of event and comments with recommendation * (1) Description of event. The pilot of N19GP was demonstrating to a passenger how to drop a flower… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85143. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airport Manager Statement (item 4, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.