- Date
- September 25, 2011, 18:00 local (Sep 26, 2011, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Talkeetna, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2945MPiper PA-12
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA Anchorage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110925023199A
- Case key
- 82031
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to take off from an off-airport site in variable wind.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from an off-airport site, the wind shifted to a tailwind. He attempted to abort the takeoff but was unable to before the airplane reached the end of the runway. The airplane contacted the ground and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing strut. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from an off-airport site, the wind shifted to a tailwind. He attempted to stop the takeoff but was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway. The airplane contacted terrain and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing strut. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2945M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1344
- Airframe hours
- 4,751
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 18, 2011 · 120 hours before
- Departed
- Talkeetna, AK
- Destination
- Wasilla, AK
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
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 5, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 616 total · 616 in this make and model · 606 as pilot in command · 87 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
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 N2945M · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.