# NTSB CEN21LA087: Piper PA12, N2569M, Gilliam, LA, November 23, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 22, 2020, 18:30 local (Nov 23, 2020, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Gilliam, LA - Coordinates: 32.823539, -93.84502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8235&lon=-93.8450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA087 ## Probable cause The non-instrument rated pilot’s encounter with poor weather conditions resulting in his performing a precautionary landing to a cornfield and subsequently nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-instrument rated pilot reported he was ferrying the airplane when he encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot reported that the fog was too thick to see, so he tried to circle back to an airport that he had passed during the flight. Unable to find the airport, he decided to perform a precautionary landing to a road. However, the pilot overshot the road and landed in a cornfield. The airplane subsequently nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2569M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2569M), registered now, S/N 12-940, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-940 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 3,317.7 total, 1,975 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Dusk - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KDTN, 18 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 20201122019369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201122019369A), Nov 22, 2020: Piper PA-12, Gilliam, LA, Substantial damage. Flying cross country, encountered foggy weather. Airport selected to land had closed runway. Attempted to land on roadway over shot landed in field. Flipped… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102416. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11834817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Police report narrative (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11760127&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report%20N2569M%20narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11759725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.