# NTSB ANC84FA075: Piper PA-12, N3988M, Palmer, AK, May 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1984, 17:00 local (May 24, 1984, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.619178, -148.979873 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6192&lon=-148.9799&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): 4209
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4209/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA075

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED FAST & LONG ON THE ROUGH 1300 FT GRASS & DIRT RWY. AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE STRIP, THE THE ACFT NOSED OVER AS THE PLT WAS APPLYING BRAKING ACTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3988M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3988M), registered now, S/N 12-3004, 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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-3004
- Airframe hours: 2986
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Herbert P Schroeder
- Registered owner: Gary T. Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1983, 65 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: 14AK, PALMER, AK
- Airport: 14AK, Four Corners, runway 36, 1,300 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total, 25 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19840523023109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840523023109A), May 23, 1984: Piper PA12, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Student pilot attempted landing on short, rough sod strip. Aircraft flipped in attempt to stop on short strip.

## Other investigations on N3988M (3)

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 ANC84LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA163), Aug 31, 1984: Piper PA-12 (N3988M), Montague Island, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC67D0450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67D0450), Jan 22, 1967: Piper PA-12 (N3988M), Pittstown, NJ, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X0915](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0915), Mar 14, 1964: Piper PA12 (N3988M), Pittstown, NJ, 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.