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20220811014469A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · Arctic Village, AK · August 11, 2022

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 11, 2022 · 11:52 local
Place
Arctic Village, AK
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N3937M
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC22FA066
Reported as
Piper PA-12
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
1
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
577 total36 in the last 90 days
N3937MRegistered now · Piper PA-12S/N 12-2825Airframe modelPiper PA-12Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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 in command (PIC) messaged privacy data omittedat 0045L on 8/11/2022 requesting her to check weather cams for artic Village. privacy data omitted Messaged back at 0646L for clear skies at Arctic Village. PIC messaged privacy data omitted 0933L that he was up and getting ready to depart marsh fork airstrip. privacy data omitted Stated that PIC had messaged friend at around 1030L that he was getting ready to leave camp at marsh fork airstrip. privacy data omitted Stated she sent three more messages with no response. Aircraft was located 2.5 nautical miles sw of marsh fork airstrip. Actual weight of the contents in the aircraft including gear, pilot, and sheep was 554 pounds. Fuel was estimated to be approximated 150 pounds; actual weight of the fuel however was indeterminable. A guide pilot flying in the local area made reference that he himself remaind grounded that afternoon due to high violent winds in the same general area of operation, close to the subject aircraft approximately 8 miles east of marsh fork strip and accident site.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) MESSAGED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AT 0045L ON 8/11/2022 REQUESTING HER TO CHECK WEATHER CAMS FOR ARTIC VILLAGE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MESSAGED BACK AT 0646L FOR CLEAR SKIES AT ARCTIC VILLAGE. PIC MESSAGED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ 0933L THAT HE WAS UP AND GETTING READY TO DEPART MARSH FORK AIRSTRIP. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT PIC HAD MESSAGED FRIEND AT AROUND 1030L THAT HE WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE CAMP AT MARSH FORK AIRSTRIP. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED SHE SENT THREE MORE MESSAGES WITH NO RESPONSE. AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 2.5 NAUTICAL MILES SW OF MARSH FORK AIRSTRIP. ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE CONTENTS IN THE AIRCRAFT INCLUDING GEAR, PILOT, AND SHEEP WAS 554 POUNDS. FUEL WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATED 150 POUNDS; ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE FUEL HOWEVER WAS INDETERMINABLE. A GUIDE PILOT FLYING IN THE LOCAL AREA MADE REFERENCE THAT HE HIMSELF REMAIND GROUNDED THAT AFTERNOON DUE TO HIGH VIOLENT WINDS IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA OF OPERATION, CLOSE TO THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES EAST OF MARSH FORK STRIP AND ACCIDENT SITE.

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 ANC22FA066Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportArctic Village, AKThe pilot’s decision to depart in turbulent and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.Aug 11, 2022 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3937M · 2

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

Incident 20210101000429ICruise/Level Flight · Fairbanks, AKSix to eight miles away from the airport and at approximately 1200-1300 feet MSL, aircraft engine crankshaft seal became dislodged causing a discharge of oil onto the cowling and windscreen. Airman turned back to return to Fairbanks international airport.…Jan 1, 2021 · Minor damageAccident 20180601006809ALanding: Touchdown · Nulato, AKPilot decided to land on a ridge top. He made a first pass and drug a wheel to check the surface. On the second pass, he miss judged his height and speed. He impacted the ground hard. He applied full power and attempted to go around. Because of the winds, he…Jun 1, 2018 · Substantial damage