# NTSB ANC12CA102: Piper PA-12, N3615M, Aniak, AK, August 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 31, 2012, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Aniak, AK - Coordinates: 60.810722, -161.850219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8107&lon=-161.8502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO – Airworthiness - NTSB case key (mKey): 84953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84953/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84953 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing at a 900-foot-long, remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the right, and then it went down a small embankment. The pilot said he inadvertently applied heavy braking, both wheels "locked," and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at a 900-foot long, remote off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the right, and then it went down a small embankment. The pilot said he inadvertently applied heavy braking, and both wheels "locked" and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3615M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3615M), registered now, S/N 12-2461, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2461 - Airframe hours: 5443 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lon P. Pogue - Registered owner: Michael W. Renfro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: PANI, Aniak, AK - Destination: Aniak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 4,400 total, 50 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## 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 20120831019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831019839A), Aug 31, 2012: Piper PA-12, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying out to off-airport landing site to meet up with a second pilot that had already landed. Pilot overflew the landing spot, landed, and upon… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84953. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380785&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. --- 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.