# NTSB MIA06CA025: Piper PA-12, N2969M, St. Petersburg, FL, November 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 12, 2005, 14:36 local (19:36 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.764999, -82.626945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7650&lon=-82.6269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in substantial damage during a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was towing a banner north and south over Madeira and Pass-A-Grille Beach, and he then turned east in a climbing turn to fly back to the airport at 1,000 feet MSL. While in the climbing turn, an engine oil leak started spraying oil on the windshield. His initial assignment was to drop the banner then pick up another for display over Vinoy Park. He immediately decided to terminate the flight as soon as possible to investigate the oil leak. He dropped the banner, and then made right traffic to land on runway 36. While turning and accelerating in the right turn, the oil leak increased in intensity, further destroying his forward visibility. As he crossed the threshold to land on 36, he had only limited peripheral vision "NONE ahead" and concentrated on getting the airplane down on the runway and stopped. At this point, he was concerned the leaking oil could burst into flames. Due to the visibility, the landing resulted in a ground loop. He notified the tower that he was ok, while shutting off switches and fuel flow, and exited the airplane by himself uninjured. A witness stated the accident flight was the pilot's very first solo banner tow flight. The pilot had been progressing well during his training enough to be permitted a solo banner pick flight. However during the solo flight he was not following training and set procedures. She contacted the tower to advise to have the pilot land. She was standing about 25 to 50 feet from the runway. The pilot had just dropped the banner and was going around to land. During his landing, all three wheels of the airplane were on the ground when she heard the airplane's engine power up again. The pilot appeared to be losing control, the airplane's wings where hitting the ground, going side to side as it was getting airborne; each wing hit a least twice. While the airplane was in the air it spun 180 degrees around and slammed into the ground. She ran over to check on the pilot. He had exited the airplane and stated he had no left rudder. The witness did not observe any abnormality with the flight control surfaces and did not see any oil on the wind shield. There was little wind during the accident. The crosswind condition was more challenging earlier during the day when the pilot was training. Later that day, the pilot told the owner of the airplane that he had no right rudder. The FAA inspector that conducted the initial examination of the accident airplane stated that he did not notice any evidence of oil leak. The color photos of the accident airplane taken by the airport manager after the accident did not indicate any evidence of oil leaks. The pilot did not declare an emergency nor did he mention a problem to airport tower when he was cleared to land. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2005, about 1436 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2969M, registered to an individual and operated by Advertising Air Force, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, banner towing operation, ground looped during landing at the Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot received no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from the same airport, earlier that day, about 1300. The pilot stated he was towing a banner north and south over Madeira and Pass-A-Grille Beach, then turned east in a climbing turn to fly back to the airport at 1,000 feet MSL. While in the climbing turn, an engine oil leak started spraying oil on the windshield. His assignment was to drop the banner then pick up another for display over Vinoy Park. He immediately decided to terminate the flight as soon as possible to investigate the oil leak. He dropped the banner, and then made right traffic to land on runway 36. While turning and accelerating in the right turn, the oil leak increased in intensity, further destroying his forward visibility. As he crossed the threshold to land on 36, he had only limited peripheral vision "NONE ahead" and concentrated on getting the airplane down on the runway and stopped. At this point, he was concerned the leaking oil could burst into flames. Due to the visibility, the landing resulted in a ground loop. He notified the tower he was ok while shutting off switches and fuel flow, and exited the airplane by himself uninjured. A witness stated the accident flight was the pilot's very first solo banner tow flight. The pilot had been progressing well during his training enough to be permitted a solo banner pick flight. However during the solo flight he was not following training and set procedures. She contacted the tower to advise to have the pilot land. She was standing about 25 to 50 feet from the runway. The pilot had just dropped the banner and was going around to land. During his landing, all three wheels of the airplane were on the ground when she heard the airplane's engine power up again. The pilot appeared to be losing control, the airplane's wings where hitting the ground, going side to side as it was getting airborne; each wing hit a least twice. While the airplane was in the air it spun 180 degrees around and slammed into the ground. She ran over to check on the pilot. He had exited the airplane and stated he had no left rudder. The witness did not observe any abnormality with the flight control surfaces and did not see any oil on the wind shield. There was little wind during the accident. The crosswind condition was more challenging earlier during the day when the pilot was training. Later that day, the pilot told the owner of the airplane that he had no right rudder. The airport manager stated he examined and photographed the accident airplane after it was recovered and taken to the operator's hanger. He observed the propeller, front and rear gear, and some notable fuselage damage. He interviewed a witness, which she stated that the pilot over-corrected for the crosswinds while landing. The crosswinds were estimated about 5 knots during the accident. The FAA inspector that conducted the initial examination of the accident airplane stated that he did not notice any evidence of oil leak. The color photos of the accident airplane taken by the airport manager after the accident did not indicate any evidence of oil leaks. The pilot did not declare an emergency nor did he mention a problem to airport tower when he was cleared to land. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2969M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2969M), registered now, S/N 12-1456, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-12 - 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: 12-1456 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Advertising Air Force - Registered owner: Thomas W. Merrifield - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL - Destination: St. Petersburg, FL - Airport: KSPG, Albert Whitted Airport, runway 36, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review November 1, 2005; flight hours: 1,078 total, 25 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: SPG ## 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 20051112029689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051112029689A), Nov 12, 2005: Piper PA12, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 12, 2005 at 1436 EDT, a Piper PA-12, N2969M, registered to [privacy data omitted] and piloted by [privacy data omitted] was landing on runway… 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.