- Date
- January 25, 1985, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2399MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19850125001599A
- Case key
- 4394
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
Witnesses observed the plt 'buzzing' a building & rolling the acft about its longitudinal axis. After the 3rd pass, it entered a steep bank, stalled & pitched down into a wooded area. There was evidence that the acft was at least 73 lbs over its max weight limit. The CG was not verified, but the elevator trim was found full nose down & cargo was found in a position that would have moved the CG aft. A toxicology check revealed traces of benzoylecgonine & cannabinoids in the plt's urine; however, none was found in his blood.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2399M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1515
- Airframe hours
- 2,670
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard Alfred Edlestein
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 6, 1984 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- Wasilla, AK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,032 total · 811 in this make and model · 998 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EDF, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.