# NTSB ANC11CA003: Piper PA-12, N4229M, Merrill Field Airport, AK, October 16, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 16, 2010, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Merrill Field Airport, AK - Coordinates: 61.213333, -149.844451 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2133&lon=-149.8445&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77623/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77623 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA003 ## Probable cause The certificated flight instructor's failure to apply the correct remedial actions to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during departure the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway berm, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that during takeoff, the airplane initially yawed to the left. He took authority over the flight controls and attempted to correct the yaw, but the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The CFI stated that he should have closed the throttle as soon as directional control was lost. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the takeoff roll. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway berm that resulted in substantial damage to the empennage. The flight instructor reported that the airplane initially yawed to the left. He took over the controls and attempted to correct the yaw, but the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The flight instructor had a total of 563 flight hours, but reported no flight time in the make and model of the accident airplane. The student pilot reported that he had a total of 9.8 hours of flight time with 4.5 hours in make and model. The flight instructor stated that he should have closed the throttle as soon as directional control was lost, and that he should have “executed a positive exchange of flight controls.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4229M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4229M), registered now, S/N 12-3126, 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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3126 - Airframe hours: 2054 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aras Worthington - Registered owner: Aras Worthington - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2010 - Departed: PAMR, Merrill Field Airport, AK - Destination: PAMR, Merrill Field Airport, AK - Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 22, 2,000 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 8, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 563 total, 0 in this make and model, 126 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 10 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20101016052249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101016052249A), Oct 16, 2010: Piper PA-12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. At take off from runway 22. The aircraft veered left and then student pilot over corrected to the right causing the aircraft to enter the grassy area right… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77623. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1: Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 922 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%3A%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1: Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 762 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%3A%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Interview (item 4, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF 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.