# NTSB GAA19CA497: Piper PA 12, N2534M, McCarthy, AK, August 15, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2019, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: McCarthy, AK
- Coordinates: 61.188056, -142.616104 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1881&lon=-142.6161&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA497
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100095/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100095
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA497

## Probable cause

The pilot's overapplication of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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)
- [Landing-flare/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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing on an uphill, 4,500-ft-long unimproved airstrip, the airplane bounced and floated. When the airplane touched down again, he applied brakes, and upon reaching the end of the airstrip, he aggressively applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to 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 during landing, on an uphill, 4,500 ft long unimproved airstrip, the airplane bounced and "floated." When the airplane touched down again, he applied brakes, and upon reaching the end of the airstrip, he aggressively applied brakes and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was 180° at 5 knots. The airplane landed to the north.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2534M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2534M), registered now, S/N 12-926, 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: 12-926
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3352.7
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2019
- Departed: 15Z, Mccarthy, AK
- Destination: na, McCarthy, AK
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 998 total, 971 in this make and model, 960 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 7.6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Observed at: PAMX, 17 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 20190815017079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190815017079A), Aug 15, 2019: Piper PA-12, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot had depart this airstrip previously and took a load out to Mccarthy. Upon returning to get second load, he stated that he floated a bit at touchdown.…

## Other investigations on N2534M (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 ANC10CA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA102), Sep 13, 2010: Piper PA-12 (N2534M), Windy Forks Strip, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing on a rough/uneven airstrip.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100095. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480023&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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