Piper PA 12 N92544

Summary

On 19 March 2017 at about 16:20 local time, a Piper PA 12 registered N92544 was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, 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.

Date

19 March 2017 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Palmer Muni (PAQ)

Coordinates

61.5994, -149.0867

Aircraft

Piper PA 12

Registration

N92544

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palmer → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA193

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, he added full power, applied right rudder, and "pushed [the] stick forward to lift [the] tail off the ground." He added that the tail came back onto the ground and that the airplane veered to the right. He further added that he overcorrected to the left and that the airplane ground looped; subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and elevator impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.