# NTSB ANC11CA063: Piper PA-12, N2318M, Gulkana, AK, July 10, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2011, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Gulkana, AK
- Coordinates: 55.919788, -159.490524 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9198&lon=-159.4905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81085/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81085
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA063

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fuselage: frames (main fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035311): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035311/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035311/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced following a hard landing. He applied remedial control inputs, but upon touching down again, he lost directional control and the airplane ground-looped. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot reported that the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced following a hard landing. He applied remedial control inputs, but upon touching down again, he lost directional control and the airplane ground-looped. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident that would have contributed to the accident. The fuselage received substantial damage during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2318M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2318M), registered now, S/N 12-1385, built 1946 (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: 12-1385
- Airframe hours: 3110
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Patrick Martinez
- Registered owner: Patrick Martinez
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2011
- Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: PAGK, Gulkana, AK
- Airport: PAGK, Gulkana, runway 15, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 260 total, 160 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20110710012809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110710012809A), Jul 10, 2011: Piper PA-12, Gulkana, AK, Substantial damage. Upon touchdown caught a gust of wind, corrected with rudder and applied left brake. Aircraft ground looped.

## Other investigations on N2318M (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 ANC84LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA129), Aug 6, 1984: Piper PA-12 (N2318M), Hope, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81085. 314 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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