# NTSB ANC83LA039: Piper PA-12, N2904M, Anchorage, AK, January 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1983, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219387, -149.849044 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2194&lon=-149.8490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4096
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4096/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA039

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - fire extinguisher,portable - loose (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fire extinguisher,portable - disconnected (cause)
  - flt control syst,rudder control - jammed (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT ON THE LANDING ROLL WITH A 7 KT RIGHT X-WIND, THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. REPORTEDLY, HE TRIED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER, BUT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER HAD COME LOOSE & BECAME JAMMED UNDER THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A SNOW BERM NEAR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS NORMALLY MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE PLT'S SEAT & IS EASY TO KICK. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE ACFT EXCEPT FOR THE FIRE, EXTINGUISHER CLAMP. AT 1635 AST, THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS CALM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2904M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2904M), registered now, S/N 12-1318, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1318
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235C 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Kuznicki
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 33, 2,469 × 60 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: center; flight hours: 103 total, 11 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRI

## 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 19830130067919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830130067919A), Jan 30, 1983: Piper PA12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped and struck a snowbank on landing. Pilot claims fire bottle on floor came loose and jammed the rudder.

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.