Piper PA 12
Cedar City, UT — February 1, 2019
Event Information
| Date | February 1, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA19CA125 |
| Event ID | 20190202X81119 |
| Location | Cedar City, UT |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.40500, -112.90916 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA 12 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control while conducting a touch-and-go landing on an unimproved, snow-covered airstrip, which resulted in a nose-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, before landing at an unimproved snow-covered airstrip, he chose to do a "low flyby with a light touch" to gauge the landing surface condition. When the airplane touched down on "what looked like compact snow", the landing gear dug into the snow crust, and the airplane nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, windshield, and the empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.