- Date
- March 28, 1997, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clayton Lake, ME
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2852MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970328003969A
- Case key
- 39338
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and uncontrolled descent to the frozen lake surface.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he flew the ski-equipped airplane to a lake to go fishing, and stalled the airplane while maneuvering to land on the frozen lake surface. Additionally, he reported that he had a bad cold, was congested, and tired. Witnesses reported that the pilot conducted a low pass over the frozen surface of lake, after which he initiated a left turn. In the turn the airplane rolled further left and descended toward the lake surface, striking the left wing and nose.
Factual narrative
On March 28, 1997, about 1030 eastern standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12, N2852M, was destroyed when it struck the ground while maneuvering near Clayton Lake, Maine. The certificated private pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight which originated from Yeager Airport, Detroit, Maine, about 0830, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated:
"...Left my private airport (Yeager) Detroit ME to go fishing on Rojo Lake. PA-12 on skies with passenger...Beautiful ride SE winds unventful wasn't feeling good last trip of the year! Had to go was not as sharp - as I should have been - stalled while approaching to landing on lake. Plane collapsed pretty much in one piece!"
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, under the section titled (How could this accident have been prevented) the pilot stated:
"...Pilot had very bad cold congested tired, weather change + 50 degrees sence last trip. Air speed was approx 60-65 steep left turn, plane stalled!"
An Operations Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Portland Flight Standards District Office, interviewed the pilot and witnesses and reported that the pilot had conducted a low pass over the frozen surface of Lake Chemquafaramticook to check for a landing area. Following the pass, the pilot initiated a left turn, in which the airplane rolled further left and descended toward the ground. The airplane struck the ice with the left wing, followed by the nose, and came to rest upright on the ice.
According to the FAA Inspector, the pilot had not received a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2852M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1188
- Airframe hours
- 3,086
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas D. Yeager
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 17, 1996 · 53 hours before
- Departed
- ME52 · Detroit, ME
- Destination
- NONE · ME
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 85 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.