# Accident 20190915016899A: Piper PA-12, Healy Lake, AK, September 15, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2019, 12:00 local time
- Place: Healy Lake, AK
- Airport: Healy Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.9511° N, 144.6717° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.9511&lon=-144.6717&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4315M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4315M) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 150 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA551](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA551) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190915016899A

## Narrative

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

IN PILOTS WORDS: ?AFTER ASSESSING LOCAL WEATHER, DEEMED SAFE TO OPERATE. TAXI WITH PREVAILING WIND FROM EAST. TOOK OFF INTO PREVAILING WINDS.

WIND SHIFTED DRAMATICALLY FROM EAST TO SOUTH ABOVE GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS TO SEVERELY TURBULENT CONDITIONS. PUSHED AIRCRAFT TO NORTH. CAUSING LEFT WING TO DIP AND FORCED AIRCRAFT INTO WATER.

FLOATS TOUCHED NOSE DOWN CAUSING AIRPLANE TO FLIP ONTO ITS BACK.?

## 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 GAA19CA551](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA551), Sep 15, 2019: Piper PA 12 (N4315M), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while taking off from water in shifting wind conditions.

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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