# NTSB ANC00LA046: Piper J3C-65, N88472, Anchorage, AK, April 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160346, -149.989959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1603&lon=-149.9900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor associated with the accident was a frozen puddle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - water,frozen (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing on a frozen mud flat. During landing roll, the main landing gear wheels broke through a large frozen puddle, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper J3C-65 airplane, N88472, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site, about 12 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 12 minutes north latitude, 149 degrees, 50 minutes west longitude. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1400, from the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 17, the pilot reported that during the landing roll on a frozen mud flat, the main landing gear wheels broke through a large frozen puddle, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88472](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88472), registered now, S/N 16096, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16096 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Continental 12-F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norman D. Ashley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1999, 6 hours before - Departed: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000415042279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000415042279A), Apr 15, 2000: Piper J3C65, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, he was landing near his cabin for the second time within 24 hours. During roll out the wheels broke through the ice and the… ## Other investigations on N88472 (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 ANC69D0122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0122), Mar 31, 1969: Piper J3C-65 (N88472), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.