# NTSB SEA94LA019: Piper PA-12, N3568M, Hamilton, MT, October 22, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1993, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Hamilton, MT
- Coordinates: 46.160339, -114.139083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1603&lon=-114.1391&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 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41843
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41843/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA019

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING, THE RESULTANT PORPOISE, AND THE DITCH NEAR THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING DURING HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT, WHEN THE AIRPLANED TOUCHED DOWN FIRMLY & BEGAN TO PORPOISE.  THE STUDENT INITIATED CORRECTIIVE ACTION TO STOP THE PORPOISE, BUT THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, HIT A DITCH, & WAS DAMAGED.

## Factual narrative

On October 22, 1993, approximately 1445 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-12, N3568M, impacted the terrain during an attempted touch-and-go landing at Ravalli County Airport, Hamilton, Montana. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The solo instructional flight, which was being limited to pattern work, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to his instructor, the student pilot, who was on his first solo flight, had made one full stop landing just prior to the accident. On the second time around the pattern he planned to make a touch-and-go landing, but the aircraft began "porpoising" after touchdown. During the pilot's attempts to correct for the porpoise, the aircraft departed the side of the runway and impacted a ditch.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3568M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3568M), registered now, S/N 12-2504, 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: 12-2504
- Airframe hours: 4597
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Read, Stanley G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1993, 90 hours before
- Departed: 6S5
- Destination: 6S5
- Airport: 6S5, Ravalli County, runway 34, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 17 total, 14 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19931022046419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931022046419A), Oct 22, 1993: Piper PA12, Hamilton, MT, Substantial damage. On second first solo landing. Bounced and porpoised and veered off runway into a ditch.

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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