Piper PA-12 N2524M accident near Aberdeen, Idaho

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain back pressure on the control stick during a landing attempt on gravel, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel bar, he performed a touch and go landing to assess the landing surface. The surface seemed stable to the pilot; however, during the subsequent full stop landing, he failed to hold enough back pressure on the flight control stick to keep the tail down. When the main landing gear touched down on the gravel surface, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA026 for the full record.