# NTSB GAA18CA530: Piper PA 12, N4159M, Edgewood, NM, July 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2018, 20:00 local (Jul 29, 2018, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Edgewood, NM - Coordinates: 35.094722, -106.16333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0947&lon=-106.1633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA530 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA530 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4159M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4159M), registered now, S/N 12-3058, 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: 12-3058 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 4698 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2018 - Departed: LVS, Las Vegas, NM - Destination: 1N1, Edgewood, NM - Airport: 1N1, Sandia Airpark Estates East, runway 27, 4,830 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,730 total, 248 in this make and model, 1,616 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 23 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 20180728018249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728018249A), Jul 28, 2018: Piper PA-12, Edgewood, NM, Substantial damage. On July 28, 2018, at 2000 MDT, a Piper super cruiser (PA-12), N4159M, registered to [privacy data omitted], ground looped on landing at Sandia airpark Estates… ## Other investigations on N4159M (1) 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 DEN04LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA032), Dec 23, 2003: Piper PA-12 (N4159M), Edgewood, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making. Factors contributing to the accident include the resulting fuel exhaustion, the snow covered field and the fence. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98241. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.