Piper PA-12 N4459M

Summary

On 22 September 2006 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N4459M was involved in an accident near Orient, Maine, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 September 2006 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Orient, Maine, United States

Coordinates

45.7892, -67.8175

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N4459M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orient → Millinocket

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06LA228

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor was his inadequate weight and balance calculations and the gusty wind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to takeoff the pilot estimated that the winds were out of the west at 15 knots and gusting. During the takeoff, the pilot was not sure at what speed he rotated the airplane. The airplane as it broke the water, and about 500 to 700 feet above the ground, the pilot banked the airplane left. The right wing then "lifted up," the nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane was "thrown to the ground." During the descent control inputs to the aileron, rudder, and elevator were ineffective. The airplane impacted trees and caught fire. The pilot did not note any problems with the engine during the flight. The passenger stated that after takeoff, and at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot initiated a shallow left turn. A gust of wind then "lifted the aircraft up," but he did not notice any unusual pitch changes. Witnesses observed the airplane takeoff at a high pitch angle, before it turned and impacted trees in a wings level descent. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical abnormalities. At the time of the accident the airplane was loaded more than 180 pounds beyond its maximum gross weight of 1,750 pounds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.