# Accident 20200608008959A: Piper PA-12, Anchorage, AK, June 8, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 8, 2020, 10:30 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1867° N, 149.9653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1867&lon=-149.9653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3188M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3188M) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200608008959A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LAKE HOOD WATERWAY FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ALL PREFLIGHT CHECKS WERE COMPLETED BEFORE TAKEOFF AND THE FLIGHT COMMENCED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT FLYING NOTICED AN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN CONTROL FEEL SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO RUDDER CONTROL JUST AFTER LEVELING OF FROM A LEFT TURN FROM THE AIRPORT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND VERIFIED THE CHANGE IN RUDDER AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ADVISED THE TOWER FOR A RETURN TO LANDING REQUEST. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

DURING POST FLIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE RUDDER AND BROKEN IN HALF STILL ATTACHED TO THE PLANE ALMOST AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. INITIAL INSPECTOR SUGGESTS POSSIBLE METAL FATIGUE.

## 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 ANC20LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA059), Jun 8, 2020: Piper PA 12 (N3188M), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the…

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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