Piper PA-12 accident near Spanaway, Washington, March 28, 2026
On March 28, 2026 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1947 Piper PA-12, registered N3484M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Spanaway, Washington (Shady Acres 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s excessive application of brakes, which resulted in the airplane tipping forward onto its nose.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2026 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spanaway, Washington · Shady Acres · 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 1947 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3484M · registry record · serial 12-2080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel airplane reported that she was on a stable approach to a narrow runway. She performed a wheel landing and applied braking to slow the airplane before lowering the tailwheel. During the landing roll she observed trees and a drop-off in elevation at end of the runway. The pilot became concerned that there was insufficient remaining stopping distance, and applied additional braking force. The airplane tipped forward and slid to a stop on its nose. Subsequently, the left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 509 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 408 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2026; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A2B (piston); 4,795 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPLU Puyallup WA at 10:46 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 1,800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 am from KPLU, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPLU 281035Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 04/03 A3011 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA142.