# Accident 19980922025719A: Piper STCPA12, New Stuyahok, AK, September 22, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 22, 1998, 13:00 local time - Place: New Stuyahok, AK - Airport: New Stuyahok - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: HXXC - Location: 59.4901° N, 157.2898° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4901&lon=-157.2898&mi=10 - Aircraft: N7689H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7689H-2018-12-18) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER STCPA12 - Reported engine: LYC O360A2A - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 5,600 total, 650 in this make and model, 400 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA155) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980922025719A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1998, ABOUT 1300 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-12 AIRPLANE, N7689H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A DRY LAKEBED LOCATED ABOUT 6 MILES EAST OF NEW STUYAHOK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED A A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE NEW STUYAHOK AIRPORT, NEW STUYAHOK, ABOUT 1225. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 23, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A SOUTHWESTERLY DEPARTURE FROM A 400 FEET LONG DRY LAKEBED. HE STATED THAT MIDWAY INTO THE TAKEOFF RUN, HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD BE UNABLE GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR A STAND OF TREES AT THE END OF THE LAKEBED. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND LANDED ABOUT MIDPOINT ON THE LAKEBED. HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE LAKEBED, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE LEFT WING AND LEFT ELEVATOR STRUCK THE GROUND, AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (.4) THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A SOUTHWESTERLY DEPARTURE FROM A 400 FEET LONG DRY LAKEBED IN A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SAID THAT MIDWAY INTO THE TAKEOFF RUN, HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD BE UNABLE TO GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR A STAND OF TREES AT THE END OF THE LAKEBED. HE SAID THAT HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND LANDED ABOUT MIDPOINT ON THE LAKEBED. HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE LAKEBED, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE LEFT WING AND LEFT ELEVATOR STRUCK THE GROUND, AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A 400' SAND STRIP THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUTERED A SLIGHT DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO KEEP FROM LIFTING OFF AND STRIKING TREES IN THE DEPARTURE PATH. THE WIND WAS SW AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS AND COMING OVER THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE USEFUL LOAD FOR THE AIRCRAFT WAS 650#. HE SAID HE HAD ONE CARIBOU AT 100#, HIMSELF AT 140# AND THE FUEL LOAD WAS 180# FOR A TOTAL OF 420#. ## 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 ANC98LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA155), Sep 22, 1998: Piper PA-12 (N7689H), New Stuyahok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area and his intentional ground loop maneuver. A factor associated with the accident was trees. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.