# NTSB WPR23LA103: Piper PA-12, N3969B, Porterville, UT, February 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 4, 2023, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Porterville, UT · Private airstrip near Porterville - Coordinates: 40.972142, -111.70443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9721&lon=-111.7044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106691/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106691 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, the intention of the flight was to sight see and look at some local airstrips to determine their conditions. He noticed fresh tracks in the snow at an airstrip he was familiar with and decided to do a low pass to inspect further. On the third low approach he misjudged the tailwheel airplane’s height above the snow and the main wheels contacted and dug in. The pilot attempted a go-around however the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3969B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3969B), registered now, S/N 12-278, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 (12-278) - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-278 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4743 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2022, 72 hours before - Departed: OGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: OGD, Ogden, UT - Airport: 15UT, Field of Dreams, runway 8, 1,438 × 100 ft, snow - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,434 total, 218 in this make and model, 7,243 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KSLC, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KSLC 041954Z 36004KT 4SM HZ FEW230 05/M03 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP250 T00501028=K ## 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 20230204000419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230204000419A), Feb 4, 2023: Piper PA-12, Porterville, UT, Substantial damage. On 02/04/2023, the pilot[privacy data omitted]of a 1946 Piper PA-12 airplane [privacy data omitted]N3969B^ was flying his airplane in the back country near… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106691. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15077174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15076800&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.