- Date
- September 1, 2018, 19:48 local (Sep 2, 2018, 01:48 UTC)
- Place
- Rexburg, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4077MPiper PA 12
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report March 20, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180901016169A
- Case key
- 98225
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 improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane bouncing and a subsequent loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and impact with a fence.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during touchdown, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced and veered right. He overcorrected with left rudder, and the airplane veered left, so he applied right rudder, but the airplane continued left. He then applied full power to go around, but the airplane departed the runway, struck a perimeter fence, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane bounced and veered right. He overcorrected with left rudder and the airplane veered left, so he applied right rudder, but the airplane continued left. He then applied full power to go around, but the airplane departed the runway, struck a perimeter fence, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about five minutes after the accident, the wind was 170º at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1, as requested.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4077M
- Reported as
- Piper PA 12 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-2959
- Built
- 1947
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RXE · Rexburg, ID
- Destination
- RXE · Rexburg, ID
- Airport
- RXE · Rexburg-Madison County, runway 17, 4,204 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed, With waivers/limitations
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KRXE
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.