Piper PA-12 accident near Lampasas, Texas, January 10, 2024
On January 10, 2024 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1946 Piper PA-12, registered N7670H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Lampasas, Texas (Lampasas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2024 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lampasas, Texas · Lampasas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12, built 1946 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7670H · registry record · serial 12-549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported, that while conducting a full stop landing, he was concerned with a military helicopter about ¾ of the way down the right side of the runway. Due to the helicopter’s position, he reduced the engine power to idle and touched down about 10 mph faster than usual. During the rollout, the pilot overcorrected to the left, the airplane tilted to the right, and the right wing contacted the ground. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there was a possibility of rotor wash from the military helicopter. There was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 107 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 25, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,913.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3,306 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXY Mexia TX at 9:20 pm
- Destination: LZZ Lampasas TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16/3, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KLZZ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLZZ 102315Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 18/M03 A2972 RMK AO2 T01791030=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 22, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7670H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.