# NTSB ANC01LA036: Piper PA-12, N3334M, Anvik, AK, February 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 2001, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Anvik, AK - Coordinates: 62.466667, -160.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4667&lon=-160.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC-FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 51457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51457/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain during descent. Factors in the accident were the presence of fog, and snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot departed a remote village on a VFR cross-country flight along the Yukon River. As the flight progressed, the pilot said he encountered fog, and descended to maintain visual contact with the ground. The airplane suddenly collided with snow-covered terrain, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. Weather conditions in the area were reported as 100 feet overcast, and the visibility was 1.25 statute miles. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 2001, about 1430 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3334M, sustained substantial damage during a collision with snow-covered terrain, about 7 miles south-southeast of Anvik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot received serious injuries. One passenger received minor injuries, and a second passenger was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. The flight originated at the Grayling Airport, Grayling, Alaska, about 1300. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 7, 2001, the pilot reported that when he departed Grayling, he set his altimeter to the field elevation of 100 feet. After departure, the pilot said the weather conditions included broken clouds at 2,000 feet, with a visibility of 3 miles. As the flight progressed southbound, the pilot said he encountered fog. He began a descent to maintain visual contact with the ground. With the airplane's altimeter indicating 400 feet, the airplane suddenly collided with terrain on the Yukon River. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. The closest official weather observation station is Anvik, Alaska. On February 6, 2001, at 1415, an automated weather observation system (AWOS) was reporting in part: Wind, 270 degrees (true) at 4 knots; visibility, 1.25 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 100 feet overcast; temperature, 21 degrees F; dew point, 16 degrees F; altimeter, 30.05 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3334M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-12 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2192 - Airframe hours: 2015 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carl A. Walker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 1999, 150 hours before - Departed: KGX, Grayling, AK - Destination: 4Z4, Holy Cross, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 19, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 1.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PANV, 7 nm away ## 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 20010206039739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010206039739A), Feb 6, 2001: Piper PA12, Anvik, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 6, 2001, about 1510 ast, a ski equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3334M, sustained substantial damage during a collision with snow-covered… 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.