# NTSB ANC83FA064: Piper PA-12, N2826M, Glennallen, AK, April 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 2, 1983, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Glennallen, AK
- Coordinates: 62.099491, -145.529525 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0995&lon=-145.5295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4019/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA064

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - flt control syst,elevator control - foreign object (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator control - movement restricted (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not possible
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT FLEW BY A CABIN AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT, SIGNALED BY ROCKING THE ACFT'S WINGS, THEN BEGAN A GRADUAL CLIMB. THE CLIMB INCREASED IN STEEPNESS UNTIL 1 WITNESS COULD SEE THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE ACFT. IT THEN NOSED OVER, MADE 1 1/2 TO 2 1/2 TURNS & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO SPECIFIC PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. HOWEVER, AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ACFT HAD RECEIVED 3 MAJOR MODIFICATIONS, 2 OF WHICH WERE UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (STC'S).  A MODIFIED ELEVATOR BELLCRANK HAD BEEN INSTALLED, BUT THERE WAS NO FLOOR OR PROTECTIVE COVERING INSTALLED OVER THE BELLCRANK. ONLY A CANVAS BARRIER PROTECTED THE BELLCRANK FROM ITEMS PLACED IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. THE EDGES OF THE CANVAS DID NOT EXTEND TO THE SIDES, TOP & BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE, BUT INSTEAD, THERE WAS A 2 TO 3 INCH CAP, LACED WITHE STRING TO HOLD THE CANVAS SECURE. A WHISK BROOM WAS FOUND IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2826M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2826M-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 12-1307, 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: 12-1307
- Airframe hours: 1527
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul R. Boniface
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1982
- Departed: LAKE LOUISE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 779 total, 244 in this make and model, 653 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Observed at: GKN, 37 nm away

## 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 19830402010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830402010619A), Apr 2, 1983: Piper STCPA12, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Modified aircraft was seen to pull up vertically from a low pass. Stalled and spun in. Out of annual, over gross wt.

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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