Piper PA-12 accident near Germansville, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1994
On June 28, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3807M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Germansville, Pennsylvania (Flying M Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failed to maintain a proper descent rate which resulted in an undershoot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Germansville, Pennsylvania · Flying M Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3807M · registry record · serial 12-2729
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE SHORT FINAL APPROACH, ABOUT 100' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE AIRPLANE'S RATE OF SINK INCREASED. THE PILOT STATED, 'RATE OF SINK INCREASED....POWER WAS APPLIED AND PITCH ATTITUDE INCREASED....AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SINK...TOUCHING DOWN...APPROXIMATELY 150' FROM [THE] RUNWAY....' THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AFTER ENCOUNTERING HIGH VEGETATION. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PRE-ACCIDENT RELATED DISCREPANCIES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1993; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PA88
- Destination: PA88
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,370 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.