# Accident 19970405004869A: Piper PA12, Kotzebue, AK, April 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 1997, 15:00 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.2403° N, 161.1906° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2403&lon=-161.1906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N112PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N112PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 548 total, 156 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970405004869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. (FROM 8020-16) WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT SKI BROKE THROUGH A LAYER OF SOFT ICE. THE PILOT APPLIED ENGINE POWER TO EXIT THE HOLE.  THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AT THE FUSELAGE ATTACH POINT.  (.19) ON APRIL 5, 1997, ABOUT 1500 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, A SKI EQUIPPED PIPER PA-12, N112PA, ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH OF KOTZEBUE, ALASKA.  THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE AIRPLANE, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND TWO PASSENGERS, WERE NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. ON APRIL 5, 1997, ABOUT 1830, THE PILOT REPORTED IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), THAT HE WAS A VOLUNTEER PILOT SUPPORTING A SNOW MACHINE RACE.  HE LANDED TO PICK UP AN INJURED DRIVER TO TRANSPORT HIM, AND ANOTHER PASSENGER, TO KOTZEBUE.  WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT SKI BROKE THROUGH A LAYER OF SOFT ICE, AND HE APPLIED ENGINE POWER TO EXIT THE HOLE.  THE RIGHT MAIN LAN DING GEAR WAS BROKEN AT THE FUSELAGE ATTACH POINT. (.4)THE PILOT LANDED IN A REMOTE AREA WITH A SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE.  HE PLANNED TO TRANSPORT AN INJURED PERSON AND ANOTHER PASSENGER TO AN AIRPORT.  THE PILOT BEGAN TO TAXI ACROSS A FROZEN AND SNOW COVERED RIVER TO BEGIN THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  WHILE TAXIING, THE RIGHT SKI BROKE THROUGHT A LAYER OF SOFT ICE, AND THE PILOT APPLIED ENGINE POWER TO EXIT THE HOLE.  THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AT THE FUSELAGE ATTACH POINT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA049), Apr 5, 1997: Piper PA-12 (N112PA), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi and takeoff. Soft/snow covered terrain was a related factor.

## Other reports on N112PA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100425043849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100425043849I), Apr 25, 2010: Piper PA-12 (N112PA), Kiana, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot hand propped aircraft. Aircraft jumped wheel chocks, struck pilot and another parked aircraft before running into a ditch. Ptrs# AL012010017965/11/2010I…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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