# NTSB WPR25LA026: Piper PA-12, N2524M, Aberdeen, ID, October 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 25, 2024, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Aberdeen, ID - Coordinates: 42, -112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0000&lon=-112.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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): 195392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain back pressure on the control stick during a landing attempt on gravel, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel bar, he performed a touch and go landing to assess the landing surface. The surface seemed stable to the pilot; however, during the subsequent full stop landing, he failed to hold enough back pressure on the flight control stick to keep the tail down. When the main landing gear touched down on the gravel surface, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2524M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2524M), registered now, S/N 12-910, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-910 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3872.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dd Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2024 - Departed: U36, Aberdeen, ID - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 322 total, 60 in this make and model, 270 as pilot in command, 17.7 in the last 90 days, 7.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: KLGU, 14 nm away - METAR: KLGU 282151Z AUTO 35007KT 10SM CLR 16/03 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP036 T01610033 ## 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 20241025017529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241025017529A), Oct 25, 2024: Piper PA-12, Weston, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from aberdeen airport (U36) to practice landings in a dry lakebed 8 miles north east of U36. The pilot landed three times in the dry lakebed, on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195392. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18208102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18208445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.