# NTSB NYC00LA017: Piper PA-12, N7118H, Orange, MA, October 24, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1999, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Orange, MA
- Location: 42.5700° N, 72.2885° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ORANGE MUNI (ORE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5700&lon=-72.2885&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47652
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47652/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA017

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a sudden wind shift.

## 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)
  - weather condition - sudden windshift (cause)

## Analysis

The tailwheel-equipped airplane made an uneventful approach.  Upon touchdown, the wind shifted about 50 degrees, and pushed the tail to the left.  The airplane then ground-looped to the right, and departed the runway.  The active runway was changed to the opposite direction immediately after the accident.

## Factual narrative

On October 24, 1999, about 1015 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-12, N7118H, was substantially damaged during landing at Orange Municipal Airport (ORE), Orange, Massachusetts.  The certificated private pilot was uninjured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Mansfield Municipal Airport (1B9), Mansfield, Massachusetts, and Orange.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that the approach to Runway 19 was uneventful.  The windsock was indicating about 8 knots, from about 250 degrees magnetic.  Then, upon touchdown, the wind shifted to about 300 degrees magnetic, "and pushed my tail hard left into a ground loop.  I could not straight[en] out the aircraft and looped right - onto grass where my left wing tip impacted the ground...."

The pilot also reported that the active runway was changed to Runway 32 immediately after his landing.

Winds at the airport 23 minutes prior to the accident, were recorded as being from 220 degrees magnetic, at 6 knots.  Winds the airport 37 minutes after the accident, were recorded as being from 230 degrees magnetic, at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7118H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-12
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-715
- Airframe hours: 682
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1B 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Arsenault
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1999, 72 hours before
- Departed: 1B9, MANSFIELD, MA
- Destination: ORE
- Airport: ORE, Orange Municipal Airport, runway 19, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 355 total, 53 in this make and model, 355 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORE

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.