# NTSB ANC77DAH41: Piper PA-12, N4040M, Anchorage, AK, September 16, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1977
- Place: Anchorage, AK · ANCHORAGE, AK
- Location: 61.2181° N, 149.9003° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Anchorage, AK, within about 23 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2181&lon=-149.9003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145369
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC77DAH41
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAH41

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3128  77/9/16  NR.ANCHORAGE,AK       PIPER PA-12         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 190
        TIME - 1000                    N4040M              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ANCHORAGE,AK                SUSITNA RIVER
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        REMARKS- LANDING ON SANDBAR IN SUSITNA RIVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4040M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4040M-2020-01-31), registration cancelled 2020-01-31, S/N 12-2923, built 1947 (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
- 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 19770916031339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770916031339A), Sep 16, 1977: Piper PA12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Landing on sandbar in susitna river.

## Other investigations on N4040M (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN18LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA039), Nov 22, 2017: Piper PA 12 (N4040M), Dickinson, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed during the short field takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB ANC99LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA031), Mar 7, 1999: Piper PA-12 (N4040M), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing the wheel equipped airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the soft snow covering the frozen lake.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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