# NTSB FTW02LA100: Piper PA-12, N3687M, Terrell, TX, March 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2002, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Terrell, TX - Coordinates: 32.709999, -96.267501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7100&lon=-96.2675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54391/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54391 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA100 ## Probable cause the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor resulting in the dual student's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during the short field approach. A contributing factor was the downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - proper glidepath - not maintained, dual student (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the tailwheel endorsement flight, the private pilot was performing a short field landing to the runway when tree branches hit the fuselage, and the right wing struck the trees. Subsequently, the airplane slowed, nosed down, and turned right. The flight instructor recalled applying left aileron and left rudder with little or no effect, and the airplane hit the ground. The flight instructor believed that the airplane encountered a sink rate which he did not detect. He further stated that "the deterioring flight path went undetected" by him since he thought the airplane had cleared the area of the trees, which caused him to "under utilize visual clues more to the sides of the approach path." The pilot reported the wind was from the north-northwest at 5-15 mph and "bumpy." ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2002, approximately 1530 central standard time, a Piper PA-12, single-engine airplane, N3687M, sustained substantial damage when the airplane struck trees during final approach to the Terrell Municipal Airport, Terrell, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the flight instructor under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight instructor and the private pilot, who was receiving instruction for his tailwheel endorsement, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Terrell approximately 1430. The flight instructor reported that he had flown the airplane with the private pilot earlier that day for an accumulated flight time of 3.1 hours during the completion of the private pilot's biennial flight review. No aircraft discrepancies were noted during the flights. Subsequently, the airplane was refueled for the tailwheel endorsement flight. The private pilot was performing a short field landing to runway 35 when tree branches hit the fuselage, and the right wing struck the trees. Subsequently, the aircraft slowed, nosed down, and turned right. The flight instructor recalled applying left aileron and left rudder which produced little or no effect, and the airplane hit the ground. The flight instructor stated that he believed that the airplane encountered a sink rate which he did not detect. He further stated that "the deterioring flight path went undetected" by him since he thought the airplane had cleared the area of the trees, which caused him to "under utilize visual clues more to the sides of the approach path." The flight instructor reported the wind was northerly at 5-15 mph. The private pilot reported the wind from the northwest at 5-10 mph and "bumpy." The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, found the airplane approximately 400 feet short of the runway. There were numerous tree branches broken at a height of approximately 60 feet agl. The main wreckage was found approximately 100 feet beyond the trees. The wing spars and ribs were damaged, and the firewall and fuselage were buckled. A gouge was found in the leading edge of a bent propeller blade. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3687M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3687M), registered now, S/N 12-2535 (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: 12-2535 - Airframe hours: 1590 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: George E. Toombs Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2001, 62 hours before - Departed: TRL, Terrell, TX - Airport: TRL, Terrell Municipal, runway 35, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 7, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 29,633 total, 480 in this make and model, 26,716 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 22, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 190 total, 4 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20020322022399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020322022399A), Mar 22, 2002: Piper PA12, Terrell, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Actual registration number is NC3687M. Owner cfr/atp completed bfr for PIC, this flight was for tail-wheel endorsement. On approach to rwy 35 aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54391. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.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.