# NTSB NYC02LA084: Piper PA-12, N4480M, Clifford, PA, April 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 2002, 08:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Clifford, PA - Coordinates: 41.616664, -75.583335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6167&lon=-75.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54534 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54534/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54534 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper visual lookout for trees. A factor was sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The pilot was accustomed to landing at the airport, which had an approach path cut into a stand of trees that had not yet developed spring foliage. The airplane struck a tree on the left side of the approach path, then impacted a marsh. The sun was about 35 degrees to the left of the approach path, and 28 degrees above the horizon. There was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2002, at 0855 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N4480M, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree while making an approach to Ashlawn Airport (3PN1), Clifford, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Seamans Field (9N3), Factoryville, Pennsylvania, and Clifford. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Due to the extent of his injuries, the pilot was unable to remember the accident. According to the passenger, the pilot had previously made "thousands" of landings at the airport. At the time of the accident, the passenger was in the rear seat, the airplane was "running well," and "everything was perfect." As the airplane approached the airport, the sun appeared to be coming up over the horizon, and the pilot was flying west to east towards it. As the airplane was nearing its final approach to runway 15, the passenger was looking out the right side - watching a red car below - when he was suddenly knocked unconscious. When he awoke, he found that the airplane had crashed into a marsh. He unbuckled his safety belt, and exited the airplane. He attempted to remove the pilot, but could not do so due to the pilot's head being jammed in the corner doorframe and his own personal injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the approach path to runway 15 had been cut into a stand of trees, which had not yet developed spring foliage. The airplane struck a tree on the left side of the approach path, and came to rest in the marsh, with the nose pointing about 310 degrees magnetic. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed that one of the propeller blades was bent back, and the nose cone had spiral scoring. Engine oil and spark plugs appeared to be new. The tanks were full of fuel, and the inspector was able to drain fuel from the carburetor. A review of accident site photographs provided by the insurance adjuster revealed treetop damage, including a bent-over main trunk near the top of one tree. On May 13, 2002, the engine and propeller were examined at a storage facility in Clayton, Delaware. The bent propeller blade exhibited leading edge nicks, and chordwise and lengthwise scratching. The unbent propeller blade exhibited small leading edge nicks. There were no external engine anomalies noted. The case halves, cylinder assemblies, rear accessory housing, front and rear accessories, and the air/oil sump housing were intact. The crankshaft was rotated by hand, and valve train continuity was confirmed. Compression was also confirmed on all cylinders. Oil on the dipstick was golden brown in color. When the bottom spark plugs were removed, water drained from cylinders 1 and 4. The right magneto was rotated by hand. A spark was obtained from each distributor tower to the magneto case by the aid of a jumper wire. The left magneto drive shaft and impulse coupling were also rotated by hand. The magneto was water-soaked, and sparks from the distributor towers to the case could not be obtained. The carburetor inlet screen was free of contamination, except for a light coating of corrosion at the base of the screen opposite the fitting. The throttle arm was actuated, which resulted in a discharge of a fuel and water mixture from the accelerator pump nozzle. Weather, recorded at an airport about 20 nautical miles to south, at 0854, included calm winds, clear skies, and a visibility of 8 statute miles. According to calculations from the U.S. Naval Observatory, the sun, about the time of the accident, was approximately 28 degrees above the horizon, at an azimuth of 101 degrees true (113 degrees magnetic.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4480M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4480M), registered now, S/N 12-3431, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3431 - Airframe hours: 3220 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Searle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2001, 21 hours before - Departed: 9N3, Factoryville, PA - Destination: 3PN1, Clifford, PA - Airport: 3PN1, Ashlawn, runway 15, 1,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 24, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 2,901 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 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 20020417007049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020417007049A), Apr 17, 2002: Piper PA12, Clifford, PA, Substantial damage. (.19) On April 17, 2002, at 0855 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N4480M, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree while approaching ashland… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54534. 323 KB in all. - Memorandums for Record (item 1, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20for%20Record-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Sun Elevation Table (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20Elevation%20Table-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.