20030817037159A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA12 · Tyonek, AK · August 17, 2003

Date: August 17, 2003 · 14:30 local
Place: Tyonek, AK
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2941M
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA095
Reported as: Piper PA12
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 640 total100 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

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) The pilot stated he was departing from a small grass strip with a 12 knot crosswind. He reported that as he lifted off and started to climb he encountered a downdraft he could not outclimb. This forced the aircraft to land in the taller grass a little to the side of the takeoff lane. The aircraft hit a log concealed in the grass causing the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT STATED HE WAS DEPARTING FROM A SMALL GRASS STRIP WITH A 12 KNOT CROSSWIND. HE REPORTED THAT AS HE LIFTED OFF AND STARTED TO CLIMB HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT HE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. THIS FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND IN THE TALLER GRASS A LITTLE TO THE SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF LANE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A LOG CONCEALED IN THE GRASS CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

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 ANC03LA095Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTyonek, AKThe pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions and maintain aircraft control during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident are a crosswind and wind…Aug 17, 2003 · Substantial damage