# NTSB NYC95LA148: Piper PA-12, N7608H, Meriden, CT, July 8, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1995, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Meriden, CT - Location: 41.5087° N, 72.8295° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MERIDEN MARKHAM MUNI (MMK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5087&lon=-72.8295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38992/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. Contributing factors were wind gusts, crosswinds, and the pilot's lack of experience in type. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION, AND WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT [TAILWHEEL] IN THIS AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON HIS SECOND SOLO LANDING RUNWAY 18, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED A GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BOGGED DOWN IN SOFT SAND CAUSING THE WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST, AT 10 TO 12 KNOTS, AND GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE VISIBILITY WAS 7 MILES, THE TEMPERATURE 90 DEGREES, AND THE RUNWAY WAS DRY. THE PILOT HAD 5.7 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS ACCURED DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 1995, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7608H, collided with the ground during the landing roll at the Meriden/Markham Airport (MMK), Meriden, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had received dual instruction, and was endorsed for solo flight [tailwheel] in this airplane just prior to the accident. The pilot stated that on his second solo landing, "a gust of wind...[caused] a ground loop to the right, and the airplane departed the runway. The left main landing gear "bogged down in soft sand" causing the wing to strike the ground. At the time of the accident the pilot reported that the winds were from the southwest, at 10 to 12 knots, and gusts to 15 knots. The visibility was 7 miles, the temperature 90 degrees, and the runway was dry. The pilot indicated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that he had a total of 88.1 flight hours, with 5.7 hours in this make and model airplane. The 5.7 flight hours in this make and model airplane were in the last 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7608H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7608H), registered now, S/N 12-483, 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: 12-483 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Meriden Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MMK - Airport: MMK, Meridan/Markham, runway 18, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 88 total, 6 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 205° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19950708017559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950708017559A), Jul 8, 1995: Piper PA12, Meriden, CT, Substantial damage. Low time in type and total hours. Ground looped on landing roll. Blamed wind gust. Quartering head wind existed. 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.