Amateur-built BEARHAWK accident near Sequim, Washington, September 2, 2012
On September 2, 2012 at about 8:01 pm local time, a amateur-built BEARHAWK, registered N347JP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sequim, Washington (Sequim Valley 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2012 · about 8:01 pm local time
- Place
- Sequim, Washington · Sequim Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BEARHAWK
- Registration
- N347JP · registry record · serial 347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, who was also the builder and owner of the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped high-wing airplane, took off from his home airport, made one landing there, and then took off again to conduct some cruise performance evaluations. He then conducted one landing and takeoff at a second airport, and then practiced several takeoffs and landings at a third airport. After that, he returned for landing on runway 27 at his home airport. The pilot reported that the approach was normal, but the air was “a bit bumpy.” The pilot said that during the flare, the airplane got a "little sideways," and the left wingtip contacted the runway. Despite the pilot's efforts to correct the situation, the airplane veered to the right and nosed over onto its back on the grass beside the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the propeller, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airplane which would have precluded normal operation.
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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 78 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 17, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLM Port Angeles WA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: W28 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 27L, 3,510 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KCLM, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on October 15, 2012. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Law Enforcement Report Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Information | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1. Aft View of Airplane (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2. Side View of Airplane (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 3. Runway and Airplane (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 4. Closeup of Crushed Rudder (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | 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 N347JP 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.