Piper PA-12 N4401M
8 July 1991 · Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 8 July 1991 at about 17:15 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N4401M, operated by Sky Signs, Inc., was involved in an accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.6907, -78.8893
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12
- Registration
- N4401M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sky Signs, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Conway → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91LA125
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING SITE AND THE WATER DITCHING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF OPERATION, DURING A BANNER TOW FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 300 FEET OVER THE OCEAN ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC BEACH. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE THE PILOT DITCHED IN THE OCEAN TO AVOID THE CROWDED BEACH. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD BROKEN AT THE PISTON END. THE ENGINE HAD 1939 HOURS SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-12 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Roscoe, Illinois, United States | Robert L. REX | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Alton, New Hampshire, United States | William Grahn | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Stuart, Florida, United States | Red Baron Aerial ADS, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Stockton, Iowa, United States | Blackhawk Soaring Club | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Loman, Minnesota, United States | Franklin, Barry | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Moose Creek, Alaska, United States | Joseph Cook | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20F | Pageland, South Carolina, United States | Blackwell, Billy | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 May 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Surf Side Beach, South Carolina, United States | Riggott, Robert C. & Lois J. | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jun 1991 | Beechcraft 95-B55 | Irmo, South Carolina, United States | Cubco, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Mar 1991 | Cessna 182D | Greer, South Carolina, United States | Blair, David M. and Frances R. | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1991 | Cessna 177RG | Saluda, South Carolina, United States | Southeast Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 May 1991 | Schweizer 269C | Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States | Dooley Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |