# NTSB ERA25LA297: Piper PA-12, N2504M, Ponce Inlet, FL, August 11, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 11, 2025, 13:59 local (17:59 UTC)
- Place: Ponce Inlet, FL · Sandbar in Halifax River
- Coordinates: 29.078353, -80.930092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0784&lon=-80.9301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA297
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200775/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA297

## Preliminary report

On August 11, 2024, about 1359 easter daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N2504M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ponce Inlet, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner tow flight. The pilot reported that during the second flight of the day, the airplane departed with 17 gallons of fuel. About 1 hour after departure at about 500 ft mean seal level, the airplane experienced a momentary surge in engine power. The engine anomaly repeated several times before the engine lost power completely. Unable to restore engine power, the pilot released the banner and performed a forced landing to an exposed sandbar. During the landing roll, the airplane overran the sandbar, nosed over in the water. The rudder struck the river bottom, substantially damaging it. The airplane came to rest inverted in about 2 ft of saltwater about 2 miles northeast of New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB), New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2504M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2504M), registered now, S/N 12-1002, built 1946 (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
- Serial number: 12-1002
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 6341.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Banner tow, Part 91
- Operator: Aerial Messages Leasing Co
- Registered owner: Aerial Messages Leasing Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 2025, 79.6 hours before
- Departed: X50, New Smyrna beach, FL
- Airport: EVB, New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: EVB, 2 nm away
- METAR: KEVB 111747Z 11010KT 10SM SCT035 32/27 A3007

## 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 20250811012259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250811012259A), Aug 11, 2025: Piper PA-12, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. On August 11, 2025, at approximately 1700Z (1300 EDT), a general aviation accident involving a Piper PA-12 occurred near new Smyrna beach, Florida. The…

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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