# NTSB SEA01LA047: Piper PA-12, N7940H, Bozeman, MT, February 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2001, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Bozeman, MT - Coordinates: 45.810184, -111.149703 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8102&lon=-111.1497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Helena FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 51464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51464/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor was the snow berm which the aircraft rolled into during the landing. ## Analysis The pilot rated passenger and prospective buyer of the tailwheel equipped Piper PA-12, was flying the aircraft from the front seat with the owner occupying the rear seat. During a touch-and-go landing the aircraft veered right and then hard left, during which the pilot (passenger) attempted to correct with rudder and the addition of power. The aircraft then ran off the left side of the runway into a snowberm and nosed over. The flying pilot reported 81 hours of flight experience in the PA-12. Calm winds existed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2001, approximately 1420 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-12, N7940H, registered to and operated by a private pilot, and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and nose over during a touch-and-go landing at Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. Both pilots aboard were uninjured. Visual meteorological calm wind conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was reported to be a pre-sale checkout, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Bozeman's Gallatin Field approximately one hour earlier. The commercially certificated prospective buyer, occupying the front seat, reported that he was executing a touch-and-go landing to runway 12. After a normal approach at 60 miles per hour and full flaps the aircraft touched down. The pilot reported that the aircraft "...veered right, then hard left..." and that he "...attempted to correct with full right rudder... ." He then "...applied full power in an attempt to get [the] acft flying..." and that the aircraft "...left [the] rwy below flying speed, the tires sank into the snow, [the] acft tipped up on the nose & then onto its back...." The pilot reported nearly 81 hours of flight experience in the PA-12 aircraft. The privately certificated owner, occupying the rear seat, reported that after a touch-and-go landing on runway 12, a second approach and landing was executed. The owner reported that on the second landing "...we initially were pointed too far right and I believe Ed over-corrected and ended up pointing left toward the edge of the runway. Ed added power to go around and tried to take off before we ran off the left side of the runway. We didn't get off the ground before hitting the edge of the runway (and fairly deep snow) and the snow slowed us down and then stopped us causing the airplane to roll over forward and upside down...." ## 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 passenger (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7940H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7940H-2021-10-02), registration cancelled 2021-10-02, S/N 12-844, 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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-844 - Airframe hours: 7300 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chandler, Douglas S. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT - Airport: BZN, Gallatin Field, runway 12, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 15, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 1,258 total, 81 in this make and model, 1,221 as pilot in command - Other flight crew; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 1 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BZN ## 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 20010208001119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010208001119A), Feb 8, 2001: Piper PA12, Bozeman, MT, No damage. (-23) The pilot-in-command stated he was performing touch and goes. Passenger (also a pilot) states previous touch and go was not fully under control. Aircraft… 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.