# NTSB ANC00LA047: Piper PA-12, N3697M, Delta Junction, AK, April 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2000, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 63.699268, -144.890304 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6993&lon=-144.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49006/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The certificated private pilot reported that while on approach to land on a large, featureless, and snow-covered glacier, he momentarily lost visual reference due to flat light conditions. He said that he was unable to judge his descent rate, and the airplane's right ski struck the surface of the glacier. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2000, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3697M, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site, about 23 miles southwest of Delta Junction, Alaska, at 63 degrees 24 minutes north latitude, 146 degrees 21 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 1000, from the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 19, the pilot reported that during approach to land on a large, featureless, and snow-covered glacier, he momentarily lost visual reference due to flat light conditions. He said that he was unable to judge his descent rate, and the airplane's right ski struck the surface of the glacier. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3697M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3697M), registered now, S/N 12-2641, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2641 - Airframe hours: 5380 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard W. Flanders - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 1999, 16 hours before - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: 11AK, DELTA JUNCTION, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,100 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20000416008689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000416008689A), Apr 16, 2000: Piper PA12, Delta Juction, AK, No damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land on a glacier in bright light which distorted his depth perception causing him to believe he was higher than he actually was.… 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.