# NTSB DEN00LA111: Piper PA-12, N3846M, Dutch John, UT, June 14, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2000, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Dutch John, UT - Coordinates: 40.939712, -109.190902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9397&lon=-109.1909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions and control the aircraft while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 - weather condition - variable wind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During landing roll, at the completion of a cross-country flight, wind gusts in excess of 30 knots which varied 15 to 20 degrees either side of the runway heading were encountered. The aircraft departed the right side of the runway and struck a tree causing damage to the right wing and right lift strut. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2000, at 1500 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3846M, sustained substantial damage when it departed the side of the runway during landing roll at Dutch John, Utah. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated at Driggs, Idaho, earlier in the day. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 29 at Dutch John and encountered wind gusts that varied in direction from 15 to 20 degrees either side of the runway. He estimated the gusts to be in excess of 30 knots. In his report on the accident, the pilot said he lost control of the aircraft during landing roll due to the gusts and the aircraft departed the right side of the runway and hit a tree. Damage was to the right wing and right wing strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3846M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3846M), registered now, S/N 12-2757 (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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2757 - Airframe hours: 3425 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph C. Bennett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: U59, DRIGGS, ID - Destination: 33U - Airport: 33U, Dutch John, runway 29, 6,600 × 60 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,620 total, 30 in this make and model, 5,620 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VEL, 35 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 20000614009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000614009039A), Jun 14, 2000: Piper PA12, Dutch John, UT, No damage. (-23) On June 14, 2000, at 1505 MDT Piper PA-12 N3846M sustained substantial damage when it departed the right side of the runway at Dutch John, UT. The… ## Other investigations on N3846M (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 ANC25LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA051), Jun 14, 2025: Piper PA-12 (N3846M), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around with a tailwind. 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.