Piper PA-12, N2554M: Accident occurred December 08, 2020 at Black Hills Airport (KSPF), Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Rapid City, South Dakota

https://registry.faa.gov/N2554M

Location: Spearfish, SD

Accident Number: CEN21LA082

Date & Time: December 8, 2020, 10:30 Local

Registration: N2554M

Aircraft: Piper PA-12

Injuries: 2 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Flight test

On December 8, 2020, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2554M, was involved in an accident near Spearfish, South Dakota. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 maintenance test flight.

An annual inspection and post-inspection runups of the airplane was performed by maintenance personnel and the maintenance test flight was performed by the pilot.

The pilot stated that he performed a run-up prior to takeoff. During the takeoff, he applied full throttle, and the airplane climbed to about 70 ft above the runway. The airplane lost engine power for a few seconds, regained power for a few more seconds, and then the engine quit. He lowered the airplane nose to increase airspeed, and the airplane continued to descend. He tried to flare the airplane, but it experienced a hard landing and impact with the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper

Registration: N2554M

Model/Series: PA12 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator:

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: SPF

Observation Time: 10:15 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C /-11°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots / , 260°

Lowest Ceiling: None

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point:

Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude: 44.481056,-103.786 (est)