# NTSB ERA12LA482: Piper PA-12, N4361M, Green Creek, NJ, July 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2012, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Green Creek, NJ - Coordinates: 39.064998, -74.909446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0650&lon=-74.9094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA482 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84465/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84465 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA482 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation while maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to land after an uneventful banner-towing flight. He dropped the banner, added full engine power, climbed to traffic pattern altitude, and maneuvered to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During the climb, the engine sputtered and then lost total power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing into trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Both fuel tanks were intact; the right fuel tank was found empty and the left fuel tank contained about 1.75 gallons of fuel. The airplane had been operated for more than 4 1/2 hours since its last refueling. It is likely that the airplane's low fuel state, combined with the maneuvering associated with the banner drop and the airplane’s subsequent pitch-up and airport traffic pattern operations resulted in an interruption of fuel flow to the engine. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2012, about 1615 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N4361M, operated by Paramount Air Service Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted trees after experiencing a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Green Creek, New Jersey. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Paramount Airport (JY04) about 1145. The local banner tow flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that he had topped off the airplane's fuel tanks (38 gallons total capacity) earlier in the day. He started the engine about 1135, and departed on a banner towing flight about 1145. The flight had been uneventful, and he was returning to land at JY04 after flying for about 4.5 hours. He dropped the banner, added full engine power, climbed to traffic pattern altitude, and maneuvered to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During the climb, the engine momentarily sputtered and then lost all power shortly thereafter. The pilot checked both fuel selectors, magnetos, and applied carburetor heat with no effect. He was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the nose section, wing leading edges, and a buckled firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Both the left (main) and right (auxiliary) fuel tanks were intact. The right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank contained about 1.75 gallons of fuel. The airplane was manufactured in 1947, with a Lycoming O-235C, 100-horsepower engine, and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150-horsepower engine at the time of the accident. Fuel was supplied to the engine via a gravity feed fuel system through the left, or both the left and the right fuel tanks. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on May 17, 2012, and the airplane had been operated for about 200 hours since. In addition, at the time of the inspection, the engine had been operated for about 750 hours since it was overhauled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4361M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4361M), registered now, S/N 12-3298, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3298 - Airframe hours: 9704 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Paramount Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Paramount Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2012, 197 hours before - Departed: JY04, Green Creek, NJ - Destination: JY04, Green Creek, NJ - Airport: JY04, Paramount, runway 14, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 843 total, 216 in this make and model, 764 as pilot in command, 302 in the last 90 days, 134 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: WWD, 3 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 20120726016359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120726016359A), Jul 26, 2012: Piper PA-12, Middle Township, NJ, Substantial damage. The pilot was finishing the day of banner towing, and was planning to drop the banner, then enter the traffic pattern to return for a landing. After dropping… ## Other investigations on N4361M (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 CHI08LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA215), Jul 26, 2008: Piper PA-12 (N4361M), Rio Grande, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84465. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 642 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Interview Memorandum (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20Memorandum%20-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 – Airplane as it came to rest in trees (provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20in%20trees%20(provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 2 – Front left side of fuselage and engine after recovery (provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%20%E2%80%93%20Front%20left%20side%20of%20fuselage%20and%20engine%20after%20recovery%20(provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 3 – Fuel level when both fuel tanks were drained into a 5 gallon capacity container after recovery (Provided by FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%203%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20level%20when%20both%20fuel%20tanks%20were%20drained%20into%20a%205%20gallon%20capacity%20container%20after%20recovery%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.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.