# Accident 19981103039929A: Piper STCPA12, Willow, AK, November 3, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 3, 1998, 14:50 local time - Place: Willow, AK - Airport: Willow - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.8909° N, 149.7303° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8909&lon=-149.7303&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5129Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5129Y) (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 STCPA12 - Reported engine: LYC O320A2B - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 77 total, 14 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA011) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981103039929A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 3, 1998, ABOUT 1450 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-12 AIRPLANE, N5129Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF WILLOW, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON NOVEMBER 4, 1998, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,000 FEET MSL, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER FAILED, FORCING HIM TO SELECT AN OPEN MEADOW AS AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. DURING THE ENSUING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED SOFT TUNDRA, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, FUSELAGE AND TAIL. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,000 FEET MSL, ALL ENGINE POWER LOST. HE STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER FAILED, FORCING HIM TO SELECT AN OPEN SWAMPY MEADOW AS AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. DURING THE ENSUING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED SOFT TUNDRA, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, FUSELAGE AND TAIL. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE AFTER RECOVERY, AND WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION. (-23) DURING FLIGHT CRUISE AT AN ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 900 AND 1000 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. PILOT SWITCH FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS 3/4 FULL TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS FULL. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. PILOT THEN ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO THE MAXIMUM POWER SETTING WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. PILOT THEN USED THE ENGINE PRIMER TO TRY AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO TRY TO RESTART ONCE, BUT DID NOT ACTUALLY RESTART. ENGINE PRIMER WOULD NOT BUILDUP PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS FUEL IN BOTH FUEL TANKS. PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A CLEARING. DURING THE ROLLOUT THE TIRES BROKE THROUGH THE FROZEN GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AIRCRAFT REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE BY HELICOPTER AND IS LOCATED AT THE WILLOW AIRPORT. ## 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 ANC99LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA011), Nov 3, 1998: Piper PA-12 (N5129Y), Willow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason. A factor associated with the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Other reports on N5129Y (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20030615012059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030615012059I), Jun 15, 2003: Piper PA12 (N5129Y), Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot landed the airplane on the ski strip at Fairbanks International Airport and applied too much pressure to the brakes. The airplane tipped up on… - [Accident 20010903025119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010903025119A), Sep 3, 2001: Piper PA12 (N5129Y), Tok, AK, No damage. (-23) On September 3, 2001, Mr. Zachary knaebel was PIC of N5129Y, a PA-12-150. While landing to a gravel bar he hit a ditch. This caused damage to the… 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.