MERIDEN, CT, USA
N7608H
PIPER PA-12
THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION, AND WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT [TAILWHEEL] IN THIS AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON HIS SECOND SOLO LANDING RUNWAY 18, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED A GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BOGGED DOWN IN SOFT SAND CAUSING THE WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST, AT 10 TO 12 KNOTS, AND GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE VISIBILITY WAS 7 MILES, THE TEMPERATURE 90 DEGREES, AND THE RUNWAY WAS DRY. THE PILOT HAD 5.7 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS ACCURED DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS.
On July 8, 1995, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7608H, collided with the ground during the landing roll at the Meriden/Markham Airport (MMK), Meriden, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot had received dual instruction, and was endorsed for solo flight [tailwheel] in this airplane just prior to the accident. The pilot stated that on his second solo landing, "a gust of wind...[caused] a ground loop to the right, and the airplane departed the runway. The left main landing gear "bogged down in soft sand" causing the wing to strike the ground. At the time of the accident the pilot reported that the winds were from the southwest, at 10 to 12 knots, and gusts to 15 knots. The visibility was 7 miles, the temperature 90 degrees, and the runway was dry. The pilot indicated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that he had a total of 88.1 flight hours, with 5.7 hours in this make and model airplane. The 5.7 flight hours in this make and model airplane were in the last 90 days.
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. Contributing factors were wind gusts, crosswinds, and the pilot's lack of experience in type.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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