# NTSB FTW97LA312: Piper PA-12, N2849M, Longmont, CO, August 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1997, 20:30 local (Aug 15, 1997, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.170295, -105.210708 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1703&lon=-105.2107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20315/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA312 ## Probable cause The pilot in command's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot elected to land on runway 29 because the 'wind (was) light with (a) south component.' The airplane bounced and veered left and the pilot overcorrected. The aircraft began swerving and the pilot overcorrected again to the right, 'inadvertently using rudder and brake.' The airplane then ground looped. The computed crosswind component was 3-1/2 knots and the tailwind component was 6 knots. The left main landing gear was sheared off, and both the forward and aft left wing spars were bent. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1997, approximately 2030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N2849M, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during landing at Longmont, Colorado. The two commercial-rated flight instructors aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Buena Vista, Colorado, approximately 1920. According to the pilot, he and his pilot-rated passenger were returning from California and had landed at Buena Vista for fuel. The flight from Buena Vista to Longmont was uneventful. Approaching Longmont, the pilot elected to land on runway 29 because there was a "wind light with (a) south component." The pilot said the airplane bounced and veered left, and he overcorrected. The airplane began swerving and the pilot overcorrected again to the right, "inadvertently using rudder and brake." The airplane then ground looped. The pilot said, "Application of power to effect a go-around would have been the correct recovery procedure." The left main landing gear was sheared off, and both the forward and aft left wing spars were bent. The nearest official weather station is Broomfield-Jefferson County Airport (BJC), located 29 miles to the south of Longmont Airport. At the time of the accident, BJC recorded the wind at 080 degrees at 6 knots. Based on these recorded winds, it was computed that the crosswind component was about 3-1/2 knots and the tailwind component was 6 knots (see exhibit). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2849M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2849M), registered now, S/N 12-1402, 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: 12-1402 - Airframe hours: 2881 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alvin M. Terry - Registered owner: 49 Mike Partnership - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1996, 25 hours before - Departed: 7V1, BUENA VISTA, CO - Destination: 2V2 - Airport: 2V2, Longmont Airport, runway 29, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,830 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,680 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 29 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 19970815022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970815022439A), Aug 15, 1997: Piper PA12, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped on landing. ## Other investigations on N2849M (2) 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 CEN21LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA159), Mar 17, 2021: Piper PA-12 (N2849M), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a full-stop landing, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with a snow berm. - [NTSB MIA73DKJ67](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DKJ67), Jun 3, 1973: Piper PA-12 (N2849M), Brownsboro, AL, substantial damage 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.