20110410007439A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · Delta Junction, AK · April 10, 2011

Date: April 10, 2011 · 15:45 local
Place: Delta Junction, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: JR7C
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3613M
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC11CA025
Reported as: Piper PA-12
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-235 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,000 total2,000 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N3613MRegistered now · Piper PA-12S/N 12-2459 · 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.

N3613M contacted the soft snow about 100 feet short of the end of the plowed runway. The soft snow sucked the aircraft into the snow, causing the aircraft to flip over on to its back. Pilot stated the sun was in his eyes and he felt as if he was conducting a flat water float landing. Mr. Hall uses a flight helmet and has a shoulder harness installed in his aircraft. Mr. Hall said he is going to get another helmet for the passenger.

As the FAA filed it

N3613M CONTACTED THE SOFT SNOW ABOUT 100 FEET SHORT OF THE END OF THE PLOWED RUNWAY. THE SOFT SNOW SUCKED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE SNOW, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ON TO ITS BACK. PILOT STATED THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND HE FELT AS IF HE WAS CONDUCTING A FLAT WATER FLOAT LANDING. MR. HALL USES A FLIGHT HELMET AND HAS A SHOULDER HARNESS INSTALLED IN HIS AIRCRAFT. MR. HALL SAID HE IS GOING TO GET ANOTHER HELMET FOR THE PASSENGER.

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 ANC11CA025Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportDelta Junction, AKThe pilot's misjudged altitude while landing in bright sunlight on an airstrip surrounded by snow, resulting in an undershoot and a nose over.Apr 10, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3613M · 2

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

Accident 20070429006139ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Delta Junction, AK(-23) [privacy data omitted] the pilot was doing off airport landings at remote locations. The pilot indicated he had taken off from a remote strip and flew around for about an hour when he landed at the next air strip. During the landing roll out the…Apr 29, 2007 · Substantial damage Accident 19750306006959ATakeoff Ground Roll · Iliamna, AKSki hit snow berm.Mar 6, 1975 · Substantial damage