# Accident 20151006017139A: Piper PA-12, Glennallen, AK, October 6, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 6, 2015, 18:20 local time
- Place: Glennallen, AK
- Airport: Gulkana
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.2414° N, 146.0122° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2414&lon=-146.0122&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7879H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7879H) (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: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 107 total, 40 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151006017139A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED GULKANA AIRPORT (GKN) AT 1740 FOR COPPER CENTER AIRPORT (Z93) WHILE RETURNING TO GKN THE PILOT DEVIATED TO THE EAST AND SAW AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AREA.  THE OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE IS A 60X350 FOOT CLEARING APPROXIMATELY 21 MILES ENE OF GLENNALLEN ALASKA.  PILOT DESCRIBED HIS INTENTION TO LAND AT A LOCATION THAT HE HAD NOT ATTEMPTED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.  HE MADE TWO PASSES LOOKING AT THE LANDING AREA AND SAW NOTHING THAT PREVENTED HIS LANDING.  DURING LANDING APPROACH, JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN AT ABOUT 20 FT. AGL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES WITH THE LEFT WING LOSING CONTROL, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COME TO REST IN THE BRUSH.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, LEFT LANDING GEAR, RIGHT WING TIP AND RIGHT STRUT.

MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.

WEATHER AT GKN: METAR PAGK 061753Z AUTO 01003KTS 10SM CLR M02/M06 A2996

## 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 GAA16CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA008), Oct 7, 2015: Piper PA (N7879H), Glennallen, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land, resulting in a collision with trees.

## Other reports on N7879H (1)

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

- [Incident 20010616014889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010616014889I), Jun 16, 2001: Piper PA12 (N7879H), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot had radio failure. Overflew runway, got green light. Wind favored rwy 31 (nw) at lake Hood strip. Landing was made into the sun, pilot temporarily…

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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