# NTSB DEN81DTC23: Piper PA-12, N3622M, Cody, WY, August 19, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 19, 1981
- Place: Cody, WY · CODY, WY
- Location: 44.5207° N, 109.0547° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cody, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5207&lon=-109.0547&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81DTC23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81DTC23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3343  81/8/19  NR.CODY,WY            PIPER PA-12         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1130                    N3622M              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  33, 8660 TOTAL HOURS, 390
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CARTER MTN STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CODY,WY                      LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL GROUND-WATER-LOOP-SWERVE
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: POORLY MAINTAINED RUNWAY SURFACE
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SOFT SHOULDERS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WND GSTG 15KTS,CHGD FM HEAD TO TAIL WND AFT TCHDWN.STRIP ON MTN TOP,D/A ARPX 12800FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3622M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3622M), registered now, S/N 12-2471, 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: Carter Mtn Strip

## 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 19810819050509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810819050509A), Aug 19, 1981: Piper PA12, Cody, WY, Substantial damage. Wind switched to a tailwind on landing roll, ground-looped to prevent going off end of 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.

---
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.