# NTSB WPR23LA280: Piper PA-12S, N48MR, Kalispell, MT, July 21, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2023, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Kalispell, MT · Airport
- Coordinates: 48.3105, -114.256 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3105&lon=-114.2560&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192683/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192683
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA280

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing with a crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101204), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a right crosswind, he felt the right-wing lift, causing the airplane to veer to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder; however, the airplane ground looped and came to rest in a nosed down position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48MR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48MR), registered now, S/N 12-2583, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12S
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12s) (registry code 7101204) (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: 12-2583
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 2926
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2022, 11 hours before
- Departed: 58S, Whitefish, MT
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GPI, Glacier Park International Airport, runway 2, 9,007 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 13, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 303 total, 30 in this make and model, 283 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KGPI, 1 nm away
- METAR: KGPI 211455Z 06004KT 10SM CLR 22/08 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02220083 51007 $

## 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 20230721012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230721012849A), Jul 21, 2023: Piper PA-12S, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. Narrative of the accident: [privacy data omitted] Was operating VFR, landing at kgpi and departed the left side of rwy 02 after touch down. This resulted in…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192683. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16009037&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20WPR23LA280%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 937 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16008807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA280%20Docket%20photo-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.

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