# NTSB GAA19CA125: Piper PA 12, N2333M, Cedar City, UT, February 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 1, 2019, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.404998, -112.909164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4050&lon=-112.9092&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control while conducting a touch-and-go landing on an unimproved, snow-covered airstrip, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/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: 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, before landing at an unimproved snow-covered airstrip, he chose to do a "low flyby with a light touch" to gauge the landing surface condition. He added that, when the airplane touched down on "what looked like compact snow," the landing gear dug into the snow crust, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the windshield, and the empennage. 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, before landing at an unimproved snow-covered airstrip, he chose to do a "low flyby with a light touch" to gauge the landing surface condition. When the airplane touched down on "what looked like compact snow", the landing gear dug into the snow crust, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, windshield, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2333M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2333M-2020-08-14), registration cancelled 2020-08-14, S/N 12-1394, built 1946 (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: 12-1394 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2609 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2018 - Departed: UT47, Hurricane, UT - Destination: Unk, Cedar City, UT - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,855 total, 109 in this make and model, 3,716 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KCDC, 20 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 20190201000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190201000479A), Feb 1, 2019: Piper PA-12, St. George, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft flipped over attempting landing on snow packed private strip near sgu. Pilot stated as he approached it became obvious that the strip was covered in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98940. 843 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 367 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.