# NTSB ANC85FA026: Piper PA-12, N3908M, Sterling, AK, December 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1984, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Sterling, AK
- Coordinates: 60.540699, -150.790496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5407&lon=-150.7905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA026

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT AFTER A TOUCH AND GO LANDING ENTER A STEEP CLIMB TO APRX 150 FT ABOVE THE 30 FT TREES. THE LEFT WING AND THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE ACFT ROTATED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3908M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2807
- Airframe hours: 2047
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ernie L. Belnap
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1983, 106 hours before
- Departed: STERLING, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 211 total, 63 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 19 °F

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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