# NTSB ANC12CA112: Piper PA-12, N4483M, Fairbanks, AK, September 23, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2012, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.192222, -147.923889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.1922&lon=-147.9239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85164/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85164 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA112 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/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 airplane was in level cruise flight when the engine lost power, resulting in an off-airport emergency landing. During the emergency landing, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot stated that he had exhausted all the fuel from the right tank. When the engine lost power, he switched to the left fuel tank but could not restart the engine. ## Factual narrative The pilot was in level cruise flight when the airplane’s engine lost power, resulting in an off-airport emergency landing. During the emergency landing, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot stated that he had exhausted all the fuel out of the right tank. When the engine lost power, he switched to the left fuel tank, but could not restart the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4483M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4483M), registered now, S/N 12-3436, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3436 - Airframe hours: 2914 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lorring David W - Registered owner: Lorring David W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2012 - Departed: Fairbanks, AK - Destination: AK7, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: AK7, Gold King ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 16,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 400 in the last 90 days, 140 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °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 20120923023269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120923023269A), Sep 23, 2012: Piper PA-12, Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. Date of accident was 9/23/2012 @ 2200 uct. Pilot, said he was flying to his hunting camp south east of Fairbanks, Alaska. He ran the right wing tank dry, and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85164. 729 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 729 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379642&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.