# NTSB ANC03LA045: Piper PA-12, N3651N, Dillingham, AK, April 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2003, 19:45 local (Apr 19, 2003, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Location: 59.0397° N, 158.4575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dillingham, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 58.333332, -158.5, outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.0397&lon=-158.4575&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56848/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA045 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and an on ground encounter with ocean water. A factor associated with the accident was a gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - water - Nose over, taxi - to takeoff ## Analysis The private pilot was preparing to depart in a tundra-tire equipped airplane from a remote beach site adjacent to open ocean waters. While taxiing for takeoff, a strong gust of wind pivoted the airplane's nose to the left, downhill and towards the ocean surf. The pilot said that he was unable to stop the airplane before the main wheels entered the ocean surf. The airplane subsequently nosed over and sank in the shallow ocean surf waters. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2003, about 1945 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3651N, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after encountering ocean waters while taxiing for takeoff on a beach, about 50 miles south of Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, and was en route to Dillingham when the accident occurred. The private pilot/airplane owner and the one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident site, about 1940. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 19, the pilot reported that he was preparing to depart from a remote beach site, adjacent to the open ocean waters of Norton Sound. He said that while taxiing for takeoff, a very strong gust of wind pivoted the airplane's nose to the left, downhill and towards the ocean surf. The pilot said that he was unable to stop the airplane before the main wheels entered the ocean surf. The airplane subsequently nosed over and sank in the shallow ocean surf waters. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the northwest at 15 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot added that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3651N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3651N), registered now, S/N 12-1902 (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: 12-1902 - Airframe hours: 3979 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brooks M. Hurley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2003 - Departed: DLG, Dillingham, AK - Destination: DLG, Dillingham, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 298 total, 132 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °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 20030418007189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030418007189A), Apr 18, 2003: Piper PA12, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While taking off from a beach with a 15-20 knot, gusting, right crosswind, the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft yawed 90 degrees to the left.… ## Other investigations on N3651N (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 ANC88LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA005), Oct 10, 1987: Piper PA-12 (N3651N), Skwentna, 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.