# NTSB SEA05CA096: Piper PA-12, N7755H, Snohomish, WA, May 11, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 10, 2005, 17:00 local (May 11, 2005, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Snohomish, WA
- Coordinates: 47.863887, -122.068054
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8639&lon=-122.0681&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61458/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA096

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll on a sandbar which resulted in the aircraft nosing over.

## 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
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - sand bar

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was intentionally landing on a sandbar, as he has done before.  During the landing roll and braking action, the tail came up and the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage.  The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On May 10, 2005, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7755H, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll on a sandbar near Snohomish, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight departed from Everett, Washington, about 45 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview, and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was intentionally landing on this sandbar, as he has done before.  During the landing roll and braking action, the tail came up and the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.  The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7755H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7755H), registered now, S/N 12-653, 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: 12-653
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marc A. Olson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAE, Everett, WA
- Destination: Snohomish, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 378 total, 225 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050510007719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050510007719A), May 10, 2005: Piper PA12, Snohomish, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing rollout on a river sand bar the pilot applied brakes causing the aircraft to nose over.

## Other investigations on N7755H (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC95LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA111), Jul 21, 1995: Piper PA-12 (N7755H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH LED TO CARBURETOR ICING AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE PREVAILING CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE…

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.

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