# NTSB ANC22LA079: Piper PA-12, N92740, Tok, AK, September 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2022, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Tok, AK
- Coordinates: 62.236555, -141.11793 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2366&lon=-141.1179&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105991/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105991
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA079

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose-over and substantial damage to the rudder and wings.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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

According to the pilot, during the landing roll on a gravel bar, she applied the brakes to slow the airplane, but felt an “unusual amount of forward momentum.” She pulled back on the stick, however, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92740](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92740), registered now, S/N 12-177 (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: 12-177
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 1483.39
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2022
- Departed: PTFO, Tok, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None, Gravel Bar
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 376.9 total, 160.8 in this make and model, 317.6 as pilot in command, 53.7 in the last 90 days, 19.7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: CYXQ, 13 nm away
- METAR: CYXQ 182000Z 05007KT 020V100 30SM FEW035 SCT250 10/03 A3001 RMK CU1CI2 SLP192

## 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 20220918016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220918016799A), Sep 18, 2022: Piper PA-12, Tok, AK, Substantial damage. On Sunday, sept 18 at 8:30AM I departed from pamr to go help [privacy data omitted]friend with his moose hunting equipment. I flew 3.2HR to ptfo where I…

## Other investigations on N92740 (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA84LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA220), Aug 14, 1984: Piper PA-12 (N92740), Juneau, AK, destroyed

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105991. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 16 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14515830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA079%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14516875&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA079-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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