# NTSB ANC02LA113: Piper PA-12, N3233M, Chickaloon, AK, September 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2002, 17:00 local (Sep 3, 2002, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 62.096942, -148.214721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0969&lon=-148.2147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55632/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which precipitated a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing the tundra tire-equipped airplane on a remote airstrip to pick up a hunter. The gravel surface airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 900 feet long and 10 feet wide. The pilot said he was landing toward the north. During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the tail came up too high, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, cowling, right wing, the right wing lift strut, and the top of the rudder. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2002, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3233M, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at a remote airstrip, about 20 miles north of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Grasshopper Aviation, Wasilla, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Wasilla Airport, about 1615. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, the pilot reported he was landing on an airstrip known as 30 mile strip to pick up a hunter. The gravel surface airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 900 feet long and 10 feet wide. The pilot said he was landing toward the north. During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the tail came up too high, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, cowling, right wing, the right wing lift strut, and the top of the rudder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3233M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3233M), registered now, S/N 12-2027, 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 O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2027 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Grasshopper Aviation - Registered owner: Robert J. Lutz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAWS, WASILLA, AK - Destination: CHICKALOON, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Chickaloon Airstrip, runway 36, 900 × 10 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 23, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 3,500 total, 30 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg ## 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 20020902024249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020902024249A), Sep 2, 2002: Piper PA12, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated the airplane was empty and the c.g was at the most forward edge of the envelope. He was too slow on the approach to landing and when the… ## Other investigations on N3233M (3) 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 GAA17CA511](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA511), Aug 26, 2017: Piper PA 12 (N3233M), Gulkana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB ANC10LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA012), Jan 14, 2010: Piper PA-12 (N3233M), Gulkana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in structural damage to the airplane during landing. - [NTSB ANC07LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA018), Feb 1, 2007: Piper PA-12 (N3233M), Glennallen, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude a stall while maneuvering, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with terrain. Factors contributing to the… 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.