# NTSB WPR12CA202: Piper PA-12, N278JB, Idaho Falls, ID, May 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2012, 16:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Idaho Falls, ID - Coordinates: 43.51361, -112.070831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5136&lon=-112.0708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA202 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and subsequent failure to maintain directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [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-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and his passenger departed from the pilot's home airport for a brief personal flight. About 10 minutes later, the pilot returned to the airport traffic area and entered the traffic pattern. In his initial telephone interview with the NTSB, the pilot reported that there "was a crosswind, with some gusting," and that the airplane bounced after its initial touchdown. It then bounced several more times, ground looped, and veered off the runway, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. In his subsequent written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg, he was asked by the controller to "keep [the] pattern short," since his airplane was slow and there was another airplane behind him. The pilot said that he landed close behind a Cessna 182 that had just departed. The pilot was uncertain whether the bounces and loss of control were due to the wind or to the wake turbulence from the departing airplane. The automated weather observation at the airport, which was posted about 2 minutes before the accident, included variable wind at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot and his passenger departed from the pilot's home airport for a brief personal flight. About 10 minutes later, the pilot returned to the airport traffic area and entered the traffic pattern. In his initial telephone interview with the NTSB, the pilot reported that there "was a crosswind, with some gusting," and that the airplane bounced after its initial touchdown. It then bounced several more times, ground looped, and veered off the runway, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. In his subsequent written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that while on the downwind leg, he was asked by the controller to "keep [the] pattern short," since his airplane was slow and there was another airplane behind him. The pilot said he landed close behind a Cessna 182 that had just departed. The pilot was uncertain whether the bounces and loss of control were due to the wind, or to the wake turbulence from the departing airplane. The automated weather observation at the airport, which was posted about 2 minutes before the accident, included "variable" winds at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N278JB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-863 - Airframe hours: 3915 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2012 - Departed: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Destination: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IDA, Idaho Falls Regional, runway 35, 4,051 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 860 total, 105 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: IDA ## 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 20120512008609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120512008609A), May 12, 2012: Piper PA-12, Idaho Falls, UT, Substantial damage. On may 12, 2012, when the winds were at 5 knots and 30 degrees left of rwy 35 at Idaho Falls Regional Airport, the pilot landed after following a Cessna 182.… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83615. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Air Traffic Controller Statement (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Air%20Traffic%20Controller%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summary Airport Operations (item 4, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary%20Airport%20Operations-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Additional Accident Photographs (item 6, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Accident%20Photographs-Master.PDF - METARs (item 7, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.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. --- 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.