Piper PA-12 accident near Columbia, MO
On September 22, 2009, a Piper PA-12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Columbia, MO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 22, 2009
- Place
- Columbia, MO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.861°N, 92.135°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090922X24416
Official records · CEN09LA597
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 22, 2009, at 0935 central daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3234M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about five miles east-northeast of the Columbia Regional Airport (COU), Columbia, Missouri. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight had departed the Montgomery-Wehrman Airport (4MO), Montgomery City, Missouri, about 0845, and was en route to Wichita, Kansas. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot purchased the airplane in Pennsylvania on September 20, 2009, and departed in the afternoon on the same day for Wichita, Kansas. It was not determined where the pilot stopped en route that night. On September 21, 2009, the pilot landed at 4MO, a privately owned grass airstrip that was open to the public, due to weather. The airport manager at 4MO stated that he saw the airplane taxiing to the tie-downs. He helped the pilot tie the airplane down, and then they checked the weather via weather radar on the television. The airport manager stated that a weather front was approaching the airport. The pilot decided to stay at Montgomery City, MO, for the night. The airport manager reported that it rained all night. According to the airport manager, the pilot returned to the airport the next morning, started the airplane, and taxied to the fuel pump. The right fuel cap was missing. The pilot drained the fuel sump repeatedly because he found water in the right tank. The left tank was checked for water
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which included low ceilings and fog, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power as a result of water contamination of the fuel.
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Browse: Missouri · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
