# NTSB CHI81FEP19: Piper PA-12, N78459, Spring Green, WI, May 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 25, 1981
- Place: Spring Green, WI · SPRING GREEN, WI
- Location: 43.1776° N, 90.0688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spring Green, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1776&lon=-90.0688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125481
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FEP19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEP19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1170  81/5/25    SPRING GREEN,WI     PIPER PA-12         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 446
        TIME - 1858                    N78459              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 177 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRI COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BRIDGEMAN,MI                SPRING GREEN,WI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           70                                                      270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           18                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WND GSTG 20KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78459](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78459), registered now, S/N 12-1970, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Tri County

## 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 19810525028649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810525028649A), May 25, 1981: Piper PA12, Spring Green, WI, Substantial damage. Out of fuel over airport. Too high on first landing approach. Stalled trying for alternate runway.

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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