Piper PA-12 accident near Sisters, Oregon, August 9, 2009
On August 9, 2009 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7670H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sisters, Oregon (Sisters Eagle Air Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 9, 2009 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sisters, Oregon · Sisters Eagle Air Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · 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 he fueled the airplane to maximum gross weight to feel the aircraft’s flight characteristics while practicing maneuvers. After practicing some stalls and slow flight, he approached the airport to land. He said he flew a slightly higher approach speed in consideration of the increased weight. The pilot stated that the windsock was hanging down with no indication of a crosswind during his approach. He made a normal landing that was true and straight, but had a slightly longer than normal roll out. As excess speed bled off, the left wing started to rise. The pilot applied left aileron and left rudder to correct the problem. He looked up and realized he was veering off the runway to the right. He applied braking but departed the asphalt onto very soft sand/dirt at approximately 25 knots. The aircraft nosed over. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent and wrinkled; the left wing struts were bent and the right upper wing root was buckled. The nearest weather reporting facility, located 17 nautical miles to the east of the accident site, was recording calm winds at the time of the accident.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,276 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,152 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2009; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,935 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBDN Bend OR at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 6K5 Sisters OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,550 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KRDM, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.