# NTSB ANC11CA078: Piper PA-11, N78635, Chenga Bay, AK, August 11, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 11, 2011, 08:44 local (16:44 UTC) - Place: Chenga Bay, AK - Coordinates: 59.870277, -147.78778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8703&lon=-147.7878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81509/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81509 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he intended to perform a landing on an island beach. During the landing, the airplane struck an unseen 12-inch sand berm and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during an off-airport landing, the airplane struck an unseen 12-inch sand berm and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78635](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78635), registered now, S/N 11-1396, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (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: 11-1396 - Airframe hours: 8760 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2011, 20 hours before - Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Chenga Bay, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 588 total, 500 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20110811022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110811022439A), Aug 11, 2011: Piper PA-11, Montague Island, AK, Minor damage. Aircraft flipped over at the end of the landing rollout. Local fishermen helped the pilot upright the aircraft. A ferry permit was issued to relocate the… ## Other investigations on N78635 (2) 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 ANC00LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA104), Aug 17, 2000: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Chenega Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout. Factors involved in this accident were sunglare, and a tall bush next to the airstrip. - [NTSB ANC80DAG16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG16), Dec 16, 1979: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Montague Is, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81509. 642 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Left wing strut (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Left%20wing%20strut-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Vertical stabilizer (item 3, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Vertical%20stabilizer-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.