# NTSB DEN83LA079: Piper PA-12, N3743M, Coalville, UT, March 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1983, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Coalville, UT
- Coordinates: 40.879558, -111.310119 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8796&lon=-111.3101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16052
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16052/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA079

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - roll
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING AN PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE WX CONDITIONS DETERIORATED ENROUTE DUE TO A SNOW STORM AND THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A PRIVATE STRIP TO AWAIT IMPROVED WEATHER. THE AIRSTRIP SEEMED HARD PACKED ENOUGH WHEN THE PLT SURVEYED IT FROM THE AIR AND IT DID HOLD UP THE ACFT UNTIL IT DECELERATED. THE RIGHT WHEEL SANK INTO THE SNOW AT SLOW SPEED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3743M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3743M-1997-08-04), registration cancelled 1997-08-04, S/N 122678 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2678
- Airframe hours: 1445
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne A. Johnson
- Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1982, 45 hours before
- Departed: SBS, STEAMBOAT SPRGS, CO
- Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 8,293 total, 60 in this make and model, 5,454 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F

## 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 19830313009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830313009189A), Mar 13, 1983: Piper PA12, Coalville, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft flipped over on snow covered runway during precautionary landing to avoid continuing flight into weather.

## Other investigations on N3743M (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 SEA93FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA010), Oct 25, 1992: Piper PA-12 (N3743M), Lowman, ID, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS INCLUDE MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN, TREES, AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.

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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