# Accident 20010206039739A: Piper PA12, Anvik, AK, February 6, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 2001, 16:04 local time
- Place: Anvik, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.4667° N, 160.1167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4667&lon=-160.1167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3334M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 950 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010206039739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 6, 2001, ABOUT 1510 AST, A SKI EQUIPPED PIPER PA-12 AIRPLANE, N3334M, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A COLLISION WITH SNOW-COVERED TERRAIN ABOUT 6.5 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF ANVIK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AND OWNED BY THE PILOT, A LICENSED PRIVATE PILOT. THE PILOT RECEIVED A BROKEN LEG, ONE PASSENGER HAS FACIAL CUTS AND THE THIRD PERSON HAD NO INJURIES AT ALL. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) PREVAILED IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FAA (IIC) ON FEBRUARY 27, 2001, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE DEPARTED GRAYLING, THE WEATHER WAS CALM AND ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY AT 15 MILES PLUS. WHILE PROCEEDING PAST ANVIK THEY ENCOUNTERED FOG AND AFTER MAKING TWO TURNS FOR WEATHER AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE, AND DESCEND FOR BETTER VISIBILITY. SHORTLY ATER, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING IT TO PITCH UP. ON RECOVERY, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED INTO A STALL/SPIN STRIKING THE RIVER ICE IN A ROTATING MOTION. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH THE RIGHT WING BENT BACK ABOUT 3" WITH A BROKEN FRONT SPAR AT THE ATTACH POINT, AND THE TAIL BENT AROUND THE FUSELAGE TOUCHING THE RIGHT AILERON FROM THE REAR. THE ENGINE BROKE AWAY TO THE LEFT, AND BOTH GEAR LEGS WERE SHEARED OFF. FORECASTED WEATHER REPORT; SCATTERED CLOUDS 2,500' ISOLATED CEILINGS BELOW 1,000' VISIBILITY BELOW 3 STATUTE MILES. (AWOS) @ ANVIK AT 1515 AST WIND 260/03 KTS; VISIBILITY 10 STATUE MILES; SKY CONDITIONS 200' SCATTERED; TEMPERATURE 23 DEGREES F; ALTIMETER 30.07 IN HG.

## 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 ANC01LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA036), Feb 6, 2001: Piper PA-12 (N3334M), Anvik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain during descent. Factors in the accident were the presence of fog, and…

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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