# Accident 20120718014879A: Piper PA-32R-301, Fairbanks, AK, July 18, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 2012, 16:45 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 65.4539° N, 147.5561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.4539&lon=-147.5561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N432LT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432LT-2012-08-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301 (registry code 7103218, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 804 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120718014879A

## Narrative

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

POST CRASH EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE LEFT AILERON CONTROL ROD HAD A PREVIOUS CRACK, AS INDICATED BY PITTED CORROSION AT THE ROD END THREADS AT THE AILERON END.  THE ROD BROKE AND THE AILERON SEPERATED.  SUBSEQUENTLY THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS, THE LEFT WING, AND THEN THE VERTICAL STABILIZER DEPARTED THE AIRFRAME.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED NEARLY VERTICAL AND IN A FLAT ATTITUDE.  THE DEBRIS FIELD AT IMPACT WAS EXTREMELY LIMITED.  THE DEBRIS FIELD FOR THE LEFT WING, HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS, AND VERTICAL FIN WERE 1/4 TO 3/4 MILES TO THE EAST OF THE FUSELAGE.

## 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 ANC12FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA066), Jul 19, 2012: Piper PA-32R-301 (N432LT), Fairbanks, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions likely leading to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and…

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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