# NTSB SEA94LA132: Piper PA-12, N3960M, Nashua, MT, May 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1994, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Nashua, MT
- Coordinates: 48.269767, -106.269012 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2698&lon=-106.2690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA132

## Probable cause

AIRSPEED WAS NOT MAINTAINED.  FACTORS INCLUDE AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS TURNING AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## Factual narrative

On May 27, 1994, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-12, N3960M, impacted terrain approximately 10 miles East of Nashua, Montana while conducting aerial application activities.  The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The aerial application flight, which departed a private airstrip near Nashua, Montana approximately 15 minutes earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.  No flight plan had been filed and there was no report of ELT activation.

The pilot stated that the aircraft was heavily loaded.  He said he was in a turn and didn't have enough airspeed.  The aircraft stalled with insufficient altitude to recover.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3960M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3960M), registered now, S/N 12-2843, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2843
- Airframe hours: 1877
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Nielson, Mark
- Registered owner: Nielson, Linda
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1992, 25 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 700 total, 400 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 4 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility: 99 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19940527012819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940527012819A), May 27, 1994: Piper PA12, Nashua, MT, Substantial damage. Heavily loaded. Stalled during proceedure turn around. Too low to recover.

## Other investigations on N3960M (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 WPR22LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA177), May 14, 2022: Piper PA-12 (N3960M), Enterprise, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the crankshaft expansion plug, which resulted in the separation of the expansion plug from the crankshaft and the subsequent loss of oil and windshield…

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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