# NTSB MIA91LA135: Piper PA-12, N78583, Stuart, FL, May 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1991, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Stuart, FL
- Location: 27.1817° N, 80.2213° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WITHAM FLD (SUA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1817&lon=-80.2213&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 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA135

## Probable cause

AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH FAILED TO DETECT CORROSION ON THE RUDDER CABLE. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTION CONTROL DURING LANDING WHEN THE RUDDER CABLE BROKE.

## 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
  - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - corroded (cause)
  - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

AFTER LOWERING THE TAILWHEEL DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO CORRECT THIS BUT THE RT RUDDER PEDAL TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR. THE ACFT THEN RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED ACFT. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RT RUDDER CABLE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION APPROX 1 INCH FWD OF THE TURNBUCKLE. REVIEW OF THE ACFT LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT AN ANNUAL INSP WAS PERFORMED ON JULY 1, 1990 & THE ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED 428 HRS SINCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78583](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78583-2013-11-07), registration cancelled 2013-11-07, S/N 12-3970, built 1947 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-3970
- Airframe hours: 2720
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Red Baron Aerial Ads, Inc.
- Registered owner: Red Baron Aerial Ads, Inc.
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1990, 428 hours before
- Airport: SUA, Witham Field, runway 2, 5,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,420 total, 175 in this make and model, 5,360 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FPR, 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 19910504016619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910504016619A), May 4, 1991: Piper STCPA12, Stuart, FL, Substantial damage. Right rudder cable failed on landing roll. Veered off runway into parked airplane. Cable area visible in cabin.

## Other investigations on N78583 (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 ATL98LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA116), Aug 19, 1998: Piper PA-12 (N78583), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight that resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power. A factor was the pilot continued flight operation with…

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.