# NTSB ANC00LA058: Piper PA-12, N7944H, Big Lake, AK, May 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.459342, -150.090774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4593&lon=-150.0908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49193/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA058 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi area, and excessive taxi speed. A factor associated with this accident was a ditch in the taxi area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - to takeoff - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he was 'taxiing pretty fast' on an off airport gravel bar. He indicated that while taxiing, as he was concentrating on the gusty tailwind, the main wheels hit a big bump and ditch which he had not seen, and the tundra tire equipped airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he should have watched the area in front of where he was taxiing, and should have walked the takeoff area prior to attempting the takeoff. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N7944H, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi for takeoff at an off airport gravel bar on the Susitna River, about 22 miles west of Big Lake, Alaska, at 61 degrees 28 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 30 minutes west longtitude. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge, during a telephone interview on May 15, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that he was taxiing for takeoff on a gravel bar. He added that he was "taxiing pretty fast." He indicated that while taxiing, as he was concentrating on the gusty tailwind, the main wheels hit a big bump and ditch which he had not seen, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he should have watched the area in front of where he was taxiing, and should have walked the takeoff area prior to attempting the takeoff. The airplane sustained damage to the top of the vertical stabilizer, and right wing strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7944H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7944H), registered now, S/N 12-847, built 1946 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-847 - Airframe hours: 2306 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott Mccavit - Registered owner: Mccavit Enterprises, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1999, 81 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 170 total, 115 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20000513042269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000513042269A), May 13, 2000: Piper PA12, Flathorn Lake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 13, 2000 at about 1430 adt a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 registered to mccavit enterprises, LLC., po box 870001, AK 99687 and piloted by keith s… 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.