# NTSB ANC74DAG72: Piper PA-11, N4987M, Alexndr Lake, AK, November 4, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 4, 1973
- Place: Alexndr Lake, AK · ALEXNDR LAKE, AK
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC74DAG72
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG72

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3600   73/11/4 NR.ALEXNDR LAKE,ALAS  PIPER PA-11         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 240
        TIME - 1300                    N4987M              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ALEXNDR LAKE,ALAS            ANCHORAGE ALAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: RUN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        REMARKS- SNOW COVERED SWAMP. SKI STRUCK HOLE, ACFT SWERVED R AND DMGD L WG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4987M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4987M-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N 11-475, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19731104037919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731104037919A), Nov 4, 1973: Piper PA11, Alexndr Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Snow covered swamp. Ski struck hole, acft swerved r and dmgd l wg.

## Other investigations on N4987M (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 ANC77DAG33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAG33), Feb 5, 1977: Piper PA-11 (N4987M), Alexander Ck, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC70D0033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70D0033), Sep 21, 1969: Piper PA-11 (N4987M), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

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.