# NTSB ANC84LA163: Piper PA-12, N3988M, Montague Island, AK, August 31, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1984, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Montague Island, AK
- Location: 60.1092° N, 147.3411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montague Island, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1092&lon=-147.3411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4361/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA163

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - overload (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS LANDED HARD AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE LANDING GEAR BUNGER CORDS BROKE AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY CABLE TO KEEP THE GEAR FROM COLLAPSING. THE LANDING AREA WAS A NARROW GRAVEL STRIP RUNNING NORTHAND SOUTH, 1600 FT IN LENGTH. THE PLT SAID THE GEAR COLLAPSE WAS THE RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING.

## 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: 123004
- Airframe hours: 3002
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-O2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Herbert P. Schroeder
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1983, 80 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: runway 36, 1,600 × 20 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 109 total, 65 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19840831046069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840831046069A), Aug 31, 1984: Piper PA12, Montague Island, AK, Substantial damage. Hard landing caused bungee cord to break. This caused gear to collapse and airplane to skid off runway.

## 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 ANC84FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA075), May 24, 1984: Piper PA-12 (N3988M), Palmer, 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.

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