NTSB WPR23LA280 — 2023-07-21 · Kalispell, Montana, United States

Current FAA registration · N48MR

Make / Model: PIPER PA-12S
Year of manufacture: 1947 · 76 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines: 3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19990430
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A5E763

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N48MR Piper PA-12S None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing with a crosswind.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a right crosswind, he felt the right-wing lift, causing the airplane to veer to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder; however, the airplane ground looped and came to rest in a nosed down position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA280.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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