20031230034499A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · Togiak, AK · December 30, 2003

Date: December 30, 2003 · 13:00 local
Place: Togiak, AK
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3624M
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC04LA017
Reported as: Piper PA12
Reported engine: Lycoming O235C
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,300 total520 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N3624MRegistration cancelled Oct 2, 2014 · Piper PA-12S/N 12-2494 · Built 1947 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) On return to Togiak, AK, the pilot noted rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine RPM. Pilot stated emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by rapid loss of power and subsequent loss of altitude. Pilot stated he lacked adequate power to maintain level flight and force landed into a snow and tree covered area. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot and his only passenger sustained minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON RETURN TO TOGIAK, AK, THE PILOT NOTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN ENGINE RPM. PILOT STATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DID NOT REMEDY THE ENGINE ROUGHNESS, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY RAPID LOSS OF POWER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ALTITUDE. PILOT STATED HE LACKED ADEQUATE POWER TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT AND FORCE LANDED INTO A SNOW AND TREE COVERED AREA. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE. THE PILOT AND HIS ONLY PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

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 ANC04LA017Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTogiak, AKA loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason that resulted in a forced landing, a collapse of the main landing gear, and a collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.Dec 30, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3624M · 1

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

Incident 19780912016999INormal Cruise · Delta, AKForced landing after engine quit, fuel restriction due to ice probable cause.Sep 12, 1978 · Minor damage