# Accident 20110925023199A: Piper PA-12, Talkeetna, AK, September 25, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2011, 18:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.3333° N, 151.6667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3333&lon=-151.6667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2945M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2945M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 600 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC11CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110925023199A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2011, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF N2945M, A PA-12, FAILED TO ACCURATELY JUDGE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE ON TAKEOFF FROM AN UNIMPROVED STRIP, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND NO INJURIES TO AIRMAN OR TWO PASSENGERS.   AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE, (NO MOOSE) THE WEATHER WAS MOSTLY SUNNY WITH RAIN SQUALLS IN THE VICINITY, CAUSING THE WINDS TO SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING.  THE TAKEOFF PATH WAS COVERED WITH TALL GRASS SO THE AIRMAN SLOWLY TAXIED BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES TO MOW THE GRASS WITH THE PROPELLER.  THE AIRMAN STATED THEY STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT THE TOP OF THE 500 FT, SLIGHTLY DOWN HILL SLOPED STRIP, WITH A SLIGHT HEAD WIND.  DURING THE ROLL, AIRMAN STATED THE WIND MUST HAVE SWITCHED BECAUSE TAKEOFF ROLL RESULTED IN BEING LONGER THAN JUDGED.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BUNCH OF YOUNG ALDERS AT THE END OF THE TAKE OFF PATH AT FULL POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND THE AIRMAN AND PASSENGERS EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; BOTH WINGS HAVE LARGE DENTS IN THEIR LEADING EDGES, THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK THE ALDERS AND THE GROUND AS IT WAS FLIPPED OVER. THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WERE DAMAGED WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND.THE AIRMAN AND CREW NOTIFIED AND WERE RESCUED BY A FEW FRIENDS WITH AIRCRAFT.  A HELICOPTER SALVAGE/RETRIEVAL COMPANY MOVED THE AIRCRAFT TO A FRIEND'S HANGAR.INSPECTOR COUNSELED AIRMAN ABOUT JUDGMENT, POSITIVE AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING, THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOULDER HARNESSES IN ALL OCCUPANT SEATS AND HOW THIS ACCIDENT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED.

## 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 ANC11CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA113), Sep 26, 2011: Piper PA-12 (N2945M), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off from an off-airport site in variable wind.

## Other reports on N2945M (1)

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

- [Accident 20060528010419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060528010419A), May 28, 2006: Piper PA12 (N2945M), Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was landing his PA-12 off-airport near a gold mine approximately 18 miles northeast of Wasilla, Alaska. On his overflight the windsocks from a…

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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