# NTSB ANC23LA041: Piper PA-12, N7712H, McGrath, AK, May 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 28, 2023, 16:00 local (May 29, 2023, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: McGrath, AK
- Coordinates: 62.323988, -154.39636
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3240&lon=-154.3964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192349/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192349
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA041

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [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)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to depart from an off-airport location. He normally departed downhill into the wind, but the wind direction had shifted. He elected to depart up the hill into the wind. At the end of the runway the airplane lifted off the ground but was not climbing fast enough to avoid the rising terrain. The pilot chose to land, the airplane touched down on the tundra and nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7712H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7712H), registered now, S/N 12-604, 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: 12-604
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 2636.6
- Engines: Lycoming O320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 2023, 50 hours before
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 528.2 total, 528.2 in this make and model, 500.1 as pilot in command, 47.5 in the last 90 days, 32.75 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observed at: PAMC
- METAR: PAMC 290002Z AUTO 25008KT 10SM BKN026 BKN034 OVC041 11/05 A2945 RMK AO2 T01110050 TSNO

## 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 20230528007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230528007829A), May 28, 2023: Piper PA-12, Mcgrath, AK, Minor damage. Pilot was on an off-airport tundra location he had landed previously. Location was sloped, and wind did not favor taking off downhill. Pilot's friend in a…

## Other investigations on N7712H (2)

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 ATL92LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA147), Jul 25, 1992: Piper PA-12 (N7712H), Southport, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES. A FACTOR WAS THE DUSK LIGHTING CONDITION.
- [NTSB UNK65X1438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1438), Feb 19, 1965: Piper PA-12 (N7712H), Dawson, GA, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192349. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA041%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15716933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA041%20Investigative%20photographs-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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