Piper PA-12 accident near Georgetown, South Carolina, April 29, 2009
On April 29, 2009 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3036M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Georgetown, South Carolina (Georgetown County Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2009 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, South Carolina · Georgetown County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3036M · registry record · serial 12-1581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The recently hired, tailwheel-endorsed commercial pilot was acting as pilot-in-command and was accompanied by the chief pilot of a banner tow company. He was practicing touch and go landings in a tailwheel airplane. During the second landing, the airplane turned to the right soon after the tailwheel contacted the runway. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control, but was unable to prevent the airplane departing the runway. The airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing was bent upward. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The recorded wind, about the time of the accident, was oriented with the runway heading at 5 knots. The pilot reported 319 hours of total flight experience, of which 3 hours were in the tailwheel-type airplane.
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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 187 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 3,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,944 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 2009; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE N. Myrtle Beach SC at 3:40 pm
- Destination: GGE Georgetown SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from GGE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3036M 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.