# NTSB ANC21LA077: Piper PA-12, N2579M, Nikolai, AK, August 28, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2021, 19:30 local (Aug 28, 2021, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Nikolai, AK
- Coordinates: 63.01, -152.48 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0100&lon=-152.4800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA, Manager, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103778
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103778/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103778
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA077

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control on go-around in gusting crosswind conditions. Contributing to accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt to land at a short off-airport landing site with a malfunctioning airspeed indicator.

## 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)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Indicating/recording systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023100): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023100/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023100/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing at a short, unimproved, off-airport landing site with a malfunctioning airspeed indicator. After touchdown, he immediately retracted the flaps when a strong gusting crosswind lifted the left wing, and the right main tire simultaneously impacted a large rock. The airplane bounced into the air, and he applied throttle to arrest the airplanes descent and touched down again. Realizing he was beyond the halfway point of the landing surface; he applied full throttle and initiated a go-around. The airplane failed to gain altitude, stalled, impacted the ground and nosed-over sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the airspeed indicator instrument; however, a blockage was present in the pitot/static system. The pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had returned to his departure airstrip when he noticed the malfunctioning airspeed indicator rather than continuing and attempting to land at the short, unimproved, off-airport landing site.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2579M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2579M), registered now, S/N 12-946, built 1946 (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: 12-946
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 5972.1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 29, 2020
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway PVT, 450 × 15 ft, gravel
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2021; seat: front; flight hours: 27,995 total, 437 in this make and model, 2,787 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: PAFS, 52 nm away
- METAR: PAFS 280301Z AUTO 30005KT 10SM FEW049 OVC065 07/M01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP163 T00721006 51015

## 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 20210827013999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210827013999A), Aug 27, 2021: Piper PA-12, Nicolai, AK, Substantial damage. Description: During touchdown on an unimproved air strip a strong gust of crosswind hit the aircraft. As the pilot started to correct, one of the main tires…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103778. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12696055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Reporting%20Form_Fillable%20Saveable_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record - wreckage examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12690371&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12688476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.

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