# NTSB ANC13CA060: Piper PA-12, N3885M, Talkeetna, AK, July 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2013, 21:00 local (Jul 1, 2013, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.277221, -148.796386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2772&lon=-148.7964&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87355/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87355 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of situational awareness, which resulted in a wrong turn into a box canyon, and an in flight collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was en route to a remote cabin site, and he made a wrong turn into a box canyon. As he flew farther into the canyon, he had to initiate a climb to avoid rising terrain ahead, and the airplane subsequently climbed into an area of light rain, fog, and reduced visibility. He said that as he was attempting to turn the airplane around, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted only on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot and passenger were missing for approximately 24 hours before searchers were able to locate the wreckage. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was en route to a remote cabin site, and he made a wrong turn into a box canyon. As he flew farther into the canyon, he had to initiate a climb to avoid rising terrain ahead, and the airplane subsequently climbed into an area of light rain, fog, and reduced visibility. He said that as he was attempting to turn the airplane around, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted only on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot and passenger were missing for approximately 24 hours before searchers were able to locate the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3885M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3885M), registered now, S/N 12-2582, 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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2582 - Airframe hours: 2833 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 2012, 50 hours before - Departed: Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 5,200 total, 300 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 37 nm away ## 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 20130630011029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130630011029A), Jun 30, 2013: Piper PA-12, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. On 6/30/2013, N3885M departed Talkeetna, Alaska for yellow jacket strip, near a hunting camp in rural Alaska under 14 CFR 91 flight rules. While trying to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87355. 895 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 895 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397450&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.