# Accident 20110517009849A: Piper PA-12, Wasilla, AK, May 17, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2011, 15:15 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6258° N, 149.3375° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6258&lon=-149.3375&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7690H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7690H) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,700 total, 154 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC11CA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110517009849A

## Narrative

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

5/17/2011 N7690H DEPARTED SMALL STRIP IN WASILLA, AK. ON A PART 91 FLIGHT. DURING CLIMB ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND THEN OVERTURNED. ONE POB, NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT LAID UP SIDE DOWN OVER NIGHT THEN WAS RETURNED TO OWNERS HANGAR THE FOLLOWING DAY. NTSB AND FAA IIC WENT TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT AT THE OWNERS HANGAR ON 5/19/2011. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AT THIS TIME AND NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED AND INSPECTED AND FOUND DRY AND GREY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOUND TO BE IN A CONDITION CONSISTENT WITH FUEL STARVATION. THE NTSB IS CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION AND IS WAITING ON AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN REPORT. ANNUAL INSPECTION SIGNED OFF 16 MAY 2011. MAY 25 2011, DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND THE FAA IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE BEING IN THE OFF POSITION DURING FLIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONFIRMED THAT HE DID NOT ENSURE THE SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST COME OUT OF ANNUAL AND THE SELECTOR VALVE HAD BEEN ROTATED 180 DEGREES TO OFF. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID HE DID NOT NOTICE THE VALVE BEING OFF DURING PRE FLIGHT.

## 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 ANC11CA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA033), May 17, 2011: Piper PA-12 (N7690H), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, resulting in a departure with the fuel selector in the "off" position, a subsequent loss of engine power, and an off-airport emergency landing.

## Other reports on N7690H (4)

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

- [Accident 20180904013109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180904013109A), Sep 4, 2018: Piper PA-12 (N7690H), Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed. During landing roll out on a off airfield, gravel strip the pilot (sole occupant) lost control when attempting to counter the effects from an uneven landing…
- [Incident 20171107018339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171107018339I), Nov 7, 2017: Piper PA-12 (N7690H), Cordova, AK, Minor damage. The airman had landed the aircraft on a remote beach at low tide. The airman misjudged the speed of the incoming tide and needed to move the aircraft to higher…
- [Accident 19940613015169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940613015169A), Jun 13, 1994: Piper PA12 (N7690H), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Too much brakes on landing roll. Nosed over. Low time in type. Check pilot reported incident to fast to prevent.
- [Accident 19810630037449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810630037449A), Jun 30, 1981: Piper PA12 (N7690H), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to take off with under inflated tire. Tire went flat. Lost control. Ran off runway and overturned.

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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