- Date
- March 21, 1994, 18:20 local (Mar 22, 1994, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Rayville, LA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2966MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940321006129A
- Case key
- 19018
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn to final approach.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During approach the pilot overshot the runway and in an attempt to realign the aircraft the pilot executed a steep turn. The pilot reported that during the turn from base to final the nose fell and the aircraft entered a spin. He regained control; however, there was not sufficient altitude to avoid ground impact.
Factual narrative
On March 21, 1994, at 1820 central standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2966M, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Rayville, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
In the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that during the turn from base to final, he overshot the runway. He further stated that he initiated a "steeper bank" to align the aircraft with the runway. During the "steep turn the nose of the aircraft fell rapidly" and it began to spin. Just prior to ground impact the pilot felt that he regained control of the aircraft; however, he did not have enough altitude to prevent ground impact and slid on it's under carriage for 150 feet.
An examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies.
The aircraft was released to the owner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2966M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1360
- Airframe hours
- 12,816
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Carter, Christoper T.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 21, 1994 · 1 hours before
- Airport
- M79 · Rayville Minicipal, runway 18, 3,700 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 370 total · 76 in this make and model · 296 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLU, 17 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.
Other investigations on N2966M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.