# Accident 20010329039769A: Piper PA12, Cooper Landing, AK, March 29, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2001, 14:00 local time
- Place: Cooper Landing, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.2408° N, 161.1896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2408&lon=-161.1896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4028H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4028H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010329039769A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ACCIDENT HAPPENED 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COOPER LANDING ON UPPER RUSSIAN LAKE. WEATHER WORSENED AFTER ENTERING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SOON AFTER PASSING SEWARD, ALASKA. DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND LAND ON LAKE TO WAIT OUT WEATHER. HE RADIOED SECOND AIRCRAFT OF THIS INTENTIONS. HE STARTED A DESCENDING LEFT TURN, DURING THE TURN HE LOST ALL VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE FROZEN, SNOW COVERED LAKE. HE LEVELED AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH SURFACE OF SNOW COVERED LAKE.

## 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 ANC01LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA044), Mar 29, 2001: Piper PA-12 (N4028H), Cooper Landing, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument metrological conditions during cruise flight. Factors associated in the accident were low ceilings, whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.

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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