What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) As reported by the pilot-in-command of the PA-12, he was landing at an unimproved off airport strip along the Kustatan river across the cook inlet, west of nikiski, AK. Just prior to touchdown while in the landing flare the left wing of the PA-12 struck the propeller of a parked Cessna 185 causing a loss of control which resulted in a grond loop. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing outboard of teh attach fitting of the wing strut and to the left aileron. Additional damage included the right hand wing tip and the tip of the right hand elevator. The pilot stated that in his opinion, the Cessna 185 was parked too close to the strip that is normally used by local pilots to access the popular fishing spot. However, he still accepts responsibility of the outcome. Damage to the Cessna 185 was reported as minor.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AS REPORTED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE PA-12, HE WAS LANDING AT AN UNIMPROVED OFF AIRPORT STRIP ALONG THE KUSTATAN RIVER ACROSS THE COOK INLET, WEST OF NIKISKI, AK. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN WHILE IN THE LANDING FLARE THE LEFT WING OF THE PA-12 STRUCK THE PROPELLER OF A PARKED CESSNA 185 CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A GROND LOOP. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING OUTBOARD OF TEH ATTACH FITTING OF THE WING STRUT AND TO THE LEFT AILERON. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE INCLUDED THE RIGHT HAND WING TIP AND THE TIP OF THE RIGHT HAND ELEVATOR. THE PILOT STATED THAT IN HIS OPINION, THE CESSNA 185 WAS PARKED TOO CLOSE TO THE STRIP THAT IS NORMALLY USED BY LOCAL PILOTS TO ACCESS THE POPULAR FISHING SPOT. HOWEVER, HE STILL ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OUTCOME. DAMAGE TO THE CESSNA 185 WAS REPORTED AS MINOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.