# Accident 20090915049479A: Piper PA-12, Mcgrath, AK, September 15, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2009, 18:00 local time
- Place: Mcgrath, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: U5RC
- Location: 61.5000° N, 154.1167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5000&lon=-154.1167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2594M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2594M) (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 PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 279 in this make and model, 122 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC09LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090915049479A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS SHUTTLING PASSENGERS 14 MILES UP THE SWIFT RIVER TO A NEW CAMP SITE.PILOT WAS BEGINNING TAKEOFF ROLL WITH TAIL WHEEL OFF GROUND WHEN AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT.  PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY REDUCING POWER.  NO RECOVERY OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL ENTERED DITCH IN GRAVEL BAR FOLLOWED BY CONTACT WITH WILLOW BUSHES WHICH CAUSED AIRCRAFT TO  FLIP UP ONTO SPINNER AND CONTINUE COMPLETELY OVER TO UPSIDE DOWN.  BOTH WINGTIPS WERE IN CONTACT WITH GROUND ON EITHER SIDE OF DITCH AND WINGS SHIFTED CAUSING WING SUPPORT STRUTS TO COLLAPSE ON BOTH SIDES.AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER HAD INADVERTENTLY APPLIED RIGHT BRAKE.PILOT SAID THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. ELT WAS ACTIVATED BY ACCIDENT AND WAS TURNED OFF BY PILOT.  AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED BY ANOTHER COMPANY AIRCRAFT AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE INITIATED BY PILOT TO EFFECT RESCUE.

## 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 ANC09LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA102), Sep 16, 2009: Piper PA-12 (N2594M), Lime Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger's inadvertent interference with, and application of the right brake pedal during takeoff.

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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