# NTSB GAA18CA522: Piper PA 12, N4077M, Rexburg, ID, September 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2018, 19:48 local (Sep 2, 2018, 01:48 UTC) - Place: Rexburg, ID - Coordinates: 43.833889, -111.805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8339&lon=-111.8050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA522 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98225/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98225 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA522 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after 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) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4077M), registered now, S/N 12-2959, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 12 (No Series) - 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: 12-2959 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20180901016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180901016169A), Sep 1, 2018: Piper PA-12, Rexburg, ID, Substantial damage. During touchdown, the pilot landed and had a slight bounce. He touched back down and while keeping the aircraft's tail up, a wind gust pushed the aircraft to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98225. 2.2 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 710 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Email Request for 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Request%20for%206120.1-Master.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.