ANC83LA085

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-12 · Glennallen, AK · May 28, 1983

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 28, 1983, 03:30 local (11:30 UTC)
Place
Glennallen, AK
Injuries
1 fatal, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N3742MPiper PA-12
Weather
Dawn
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
19830528021429A
Case key
4122

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering
Judgment - poorPilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandFactor
Maneuver - performedPilot in command
Light condition - dawnFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Altitude - misjudgedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

Reportedly, the plt & passenger had worked a long day before going to their respective homes to attend household chores. Later, they met, and reportedly, they consumed food & beer. Eventually, they arrived at the location of where the plt's plane was parked. The 2 occupants got into the acft & flew for a while, then landed along the shore of tazlina lake for physiological relief. Shortly after that they took off again. According to the passenger, the plt was explaning a maneuver (forward side-slip) when the acft collided with the surface of tazline lake. The passenger was dazed by the impact, but got out while the plane was sinking. He dove to rescue the plt but was unable. Later, the plt's body was recovered. A check of his blood revealed an alcohol level of 0.103%. Areas of surface fog were reported over the lake up to aprx 10 or 20 ft above the water. Except for the fog (water smoke), the ceiling & visibility were unlimited.

Aircraft

Registration
N3742M
Reported as
Piper PA-12
Category
Airplane
Serial number
12-2549
Engine
Lycoming UNKNOWN, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Fire
Unknown
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Gene White
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Z14 · Taziina Lodge, AK

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
23
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Front
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Dawn

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.