# NTSB ERA20CA268: Piper PA 12, N4365M, Linconville, ME, July 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2020, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Linconville, ME - Coordinates: 44.69429, -69.381042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6943&lon=-69.3810&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101710/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101710 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent main landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a local flight with stops at several airports, the pilot was returning to the private grass runway. The pilot described that the final approach to the runway was “too fast,” and that when the airplane touched down on the soft turf it bounced. When the airplane touched down a second time, the landing gear collapsed. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4365M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4365M), registered now, S/N 12-3303, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 12 (No Series) - 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 - Serial number: 12-3303 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: Lycoming O290-0-2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2019 - Departed: RKD, Rockland, ME - Destination: PVT, Linconville, ME - Airport: PVT, Private, runway UNKN, 1,700 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 562 total, 36 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 20200718018839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200718018839A), Jul 18, 2020: Piper PA-12, Lincolnville, ME, Substantial damage. Airman forward slipped the aircraft in approach to landing over trees and descended fast into landing on soft turf. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101710. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10039044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4365M%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10053035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20N4365M_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10037733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20correspondence%20summary%20%20N4365M-Rel.pdf - FAA email correspondence (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10038779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20%20N4365M-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10037974&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CA268-Rel.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.