Santana PA-18 REPLICA accident near Ronan, Montana, August 8, 2012
On August 8, 2012 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2011 Santana PA-18 REPLICA, registered N3AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ronan, Montana (Ronan 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
A jammed tailwheel assembly, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control upon landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2012 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ronan, Montana · Ronan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Santana PA-18 REPLICA, built 2011
- Registration
- N3AK · registry record · serial TC0604104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the airplane, reported that he had flown a left traffic pattern in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that the wind was light and variable. The pilot then conducted a wheel landing, and he reported that it was normal. However, immediately after he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, the airplane veered rapidly right and then skidded off of the runway into grass. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed that both of the tailwheel chains that normally connected the rudder horns to the tailwheel steering arms were disconnected from their respective springs. The end link of one of the chains was fractured, whereas the end link of the other chain was intact. The chains were different lengths, which was consistent with the possible failure and loss of one or more links. During subsequent disassembly of the tailwheel pivot mechanism, some springs and internal components were found fractured, and at least one of the springs was found jammed, which prevented the tailwheel from pivoting. Although the investigation could not determine when or why the chains failed or became disconnected, significantly increased or complete resistance to tailwheel pivoting could result in the failure of one or both chains. The available evidence is consistent with the tailwheel having become jammed, and possibly uncontrollable, in a noncentered position during flight, which resulted in the airplane entering a right veer during the landing roll from which the pilot could not recover. The maintenance technician who disassembled the tailwheel after the accident reported that the damage to the pivot mechanism did not result from 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,964 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,857 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 24, 2011; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-EXP (piston); 47 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S0 Ronan MT at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 7S0 Ronan MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:30 pm
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.
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.