20030418007189A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · Dillingham, AK · April 18, 2003

Date: April 18, 2003 · 19:30 local
Place: Dillingham, AK
Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3651N
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA045
Reported as: Piper PA12
Reported engine: Lycoming O360*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total130 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

N3651NRegistered now · Piper PA-12S/N 12-1902 Airframe modelPiper PA-12 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While taking off from a beach with a 15-20 knot, gusting, right crosswind, the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft yawed 90 degrees to the left. This turned the 15-20 knot crosswind into a 15-20 knot tailwind and on a heading towards the ocean. The pilot aborted the takeoff. When the wheels hit the water the aircraft inverted, causing substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A BEACH WITH A 15-20 KNOT, GUSTING, RIGHT CROSSWIND, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THIS TURNED THE 15-20 KNOT CROSSWIND INTO A 15-20 KNOT TAILWIND AND ON A HEADING TOWARDS THE OCEAN. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. WHEN THE WHEELS HIT THE WATER THE AIRCRAFT INVERTED, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC03LA045Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDillingham, AKThe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and an on ground encounter with ocean water. A factor associated with the accident was a gusty wind condition.Apr 19, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3651N · 1

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

Accident 19871009059569ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Skwentna, AKStruck a tree stump in tall grass on a unimproved landing strip. Impact severed left main gear.Oct 9, 1987 · Substantial damage