ANC06CA096

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-12 · Anchorage, AK · July 23, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 23, 2006, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC)
Place
Anchorage, AK
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N4017MPiper PA-12
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
20060723014719A
Case key
64185

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and colliding with a runway light and the ground. Factors contributing to the accident were an inadvertent ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
Landing gear,main gear - collapsedFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Terrain condition - ground
Object - runway light

Analysis

The private certificated pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued to turn left. It departed off the runway and ground looped to the right. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck a runway edge light and the ground. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage.

Factual narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued to turn left. It departed off the runway and ground looped to the right. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck a runway edge light and the ground. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage.

Aircraft

Registration
N4017M
Reported as
Piper PA-12
Category
Airplane
Serial number
12-2895
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Albert R. Kito
Registered owner
Albert R. Kitto
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Z41 · Anchorage, AK
Airport
Z41 · Lake Hood Strip, runway 31

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
69
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
188 total · 11 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N4017M · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.