20120620018319A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3F-65 · Mt Susitna, AK · June 20, 2012

Date: June 20, 2012 · 20:30 local
Place: Mt Susitna, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N77EC
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC12CA081
Reported as: Piper J3F-65
Reported engine: Franklin 4AC176B series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,500 total150 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N77ECRegistered now · Piper J3F-65S/N 7025 · Built 1941 Airframe modelPiper J3F-65 Engine modelFranklin 4AC176B seriesReciprocating

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.

Pilot was practicing off-airport takeoffs and landings. On the 3rd approach, the pilot decided his approach to landing was not stable. Pilot initiated a go-around. Aircraft stalled and contacted the ground with the propeller, left wing and left landing gear, which collapsed. The impact also damaged the left wing spar.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS PRACTICING OFF-AIRPORT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE 3RD APPROACH, THE PILOT DECIDED HIS APPROACH TO LANDING WAS NOT STABLE. PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND. AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH THE PROPELLER, LEFT WING AND LEFT LANDING GEAR, WHICH COLLAPSED. THE IMPACT ALSO DAMAGED THE LEFT WING SPAR.

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 ANC12CA081Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeluga, AKThe pilot's delayed decision to go around, which resulted in a hard landing.Jun 21, 2012 · Substantial damage