No fatalities

9 Aug 2009: PIPER PA-12 — HAPHEY BRUCE F — Sisters, OR

Sisters, OR, United States

On 9 Aug 2009, a PIPER PA-12 operated by HAPHEY BRUCE F was involved in an aviation accident near Sisters, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot at maximum gross weight for stall and slow-flight practice experienced a longer landing roll. Corrective inputs for a rising left wing led to veering off the runway onto soft sand, causing the aircraft to nose over.

Accident Details

A pilot reported fueling the airplane to maximum gross weight to assess its flight characteristics during maneuvers. After practicing stalls and slow flight, the pilot approached the airport for landing. The pilot stated that a slightly higher approach speed was used in consideration of the increased weight. During the approach, the windsock indicated no crosswind, hanging down.

The landing was described as normal, true, and straight, but the roll out was slightly longer than usual. As excess speed dissipated, the left wing began to rise. The pilot applied left aileron and left rudder to correct the wing rise. Upon looking up, the pilot realized the aircraft was veering to the right. Braking was applied, but the aircraft departed the asphalt runway onto very soft sand and dirt at approximately 25 knots, where it nosed over.

Damage

The accident resulted in damage to the aircraft: the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent and wrinkled, the left wing struts were bent, and the right upper wing root was buckled.

Weather

The nearest weather reporting facility, located 17 nautical miles east of the accident site, recorded calm winds at the time of the accident.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot