# NTSB WPR09CA394: Piper PA-12, N7670H, Sisters, OR, August 9, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2009, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Sisters, OR
- Coordinates: 44.304443, -121.539169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3044&lon=-121.5392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA394
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74514/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74514
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA394

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane to maximum gross weight to feel the aircraft’s flight characteristics while practicing maneuvers. After practicing some stalls and slow flight, he approached the airport to land. He said he flew a slightly higher approach speed in consideration of the increased weight. The pilot stated that the windsock was hanging down with no indication of a crosswind during his approach. He made a normal landing that was true and straight, but had a slightly longer than normal roll out. As excess speed bled off, the left wing started to rise. The pilot applied left aileron and left rudder to correct the problem. He looked up and realized he was veering off the runway to the right. He applied braking but departed the asphalt onto very soft sand/dirt at approximately 25 knots. The aircraft nosed over. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent and wrinkled; the left wing struts were bent and the right upper wing root was buckled. The nearest weather reporting facility, located 17 nautical miles to the east of the accident site, was recording calm winds at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane to maximum gross weight to feel the aircraft’s flight characteristics while practicing maneuvers. After practicing some stalls and slow flight, he approached the airport to land. He said he flew a slightly higher approach speed in consideration of the increased weight. The pilot stated the windsock was hanging down with no indication of a crosswind during his approach. He made a normal landing that was true and straight, but had a slightly longer than normal roll out. As excess speed bled off, the left wing started to rise. The pilot applied left aileron and left rudder to correct the problem. He looked up and realized he was veering off the runway to the right. He applied braking but departed the asphalt onto very soft sand/dirt at approximately 25 knots. The aircraft nosed over. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent and wrinkled; the left wing struts were bent and the right upper wing root was buckled. The nearest weather reporting facility, located 17 nautical miles to the east of the accident site, was recording calm winds at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7670H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7670H), registered now, S/N 12-549, 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: 12-549
- Airframe hours: 1643
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Haphey Bruce F
- Registered owner: Haphey Bruce F
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2009, 4 hours before
- Departed: KBDN, Bend, OR
- Destination: 6K5, Sisters, OR
- Airport: 6K5, Sisters Eagle Air Airport, runway 02, 3,550 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 3,276 total, 45 in this make and model, 3,152 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KRDM, 17 nm away

## 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 20090809012929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090809012929A), Aug 9, 2009: Piper PA12, Sisters, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 9, 2009 bruce haphey, aircraft owner, landed a Piper PA-12, N7670H at Sisters Eagle airport, Sisters Oregon. Upon roll out the aircraft veered…

## Other investigations on N7670H (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 CEN24LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA090), Jan 10, 2024: Piper PA-12 (N7670H), Lampasas, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74514. 569 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- FAA - Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Redacted.PDF

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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