# NTSB ANC24LA001: Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, N2129P, Beluga, AK, October 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 7, 2023, 17:30 local (Oct 8, 2023, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Coordinates: 61.496667, -151.90388
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4967&lon=-151.9039&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: 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193231/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193231
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA001

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control after failing to determine wind direction during landing in variable, gusting wind conditions.

## 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: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=056408N), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056408N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=056408N), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056408N), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056408N), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Pilot reported that, after touching down on a dry lakebed, he encountered a wind gust that lifted the tail of the airplane, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front wing struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2129P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2129P), registered now, S/N 211622, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NATHAN A REHAK CAW-12
- Registry model: [Nathan A Rehak CAW-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/nathan-a-rehak-caw-12) (registry code 056408N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2a) (registry code 42285, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 211622
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 210
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 10, 2023
- Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2022; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,900 total, 210 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.13 inHg
- Observed at: PAWS, 68 nm away
- METAR: PAWS 080056Z AUTO 15003KT 10SM BKN090 09/05 A2913 RMK AO2 SLP869 T00890050

## 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 20231007015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231007015059A), Oct 7, 2023: Nathan A Rehak CAW-12, Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. On Saturday, October 7th 2023, at 0100Z, a single engine CAW-12 airplane (similar to a Piper PA-12), flipped over on its back during landing at an off-airport…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193231. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16342581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20V3_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16341997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA001%20Photos-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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