# NTSB ANC85FA111: Piper PA-12, N3081M, Chugiak, AK, June 30, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1985, 21:15 local (Jun 30, 1985, 05:15 UTC)
- Place: Chugiak, AK
- Coordinates: 61.410911, -149.170562 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4109&lon=-149.1706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4416/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA111

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - improper (cause)
  - refueling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - other (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - not obtained, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR ON TAKEOFF. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT DISCLOSED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED IN THE ACFT. LAB TESTS INDICATED THE FUEL WAS SUBJECTEDTO HIGH TEMPS WHICH EVAPORATED APRX 50% OF THE FUEL LEAVING ONLY ADDITIVES. INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MOLDED CELLULAR FIBRE FLOAT. TESTS ON THE FLOAT SHOWED IT WAS ABLE TO AND APPARENTLY ABSORBED FUEL AND AS A RESULT IT SANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3081M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3081M-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 12-1769, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1769
- Airframe hours: 1544
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald E. Sheik
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 1984, 73 hours before
- Departed: CHUGIAK, AK
- Airport: Hilltop, runway 3, 1,300 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 677 total, 329 in this make and model, 629 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19850629028459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850629028459A), Jun 29, 1985: Piper STCPA12, Chugiak, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Engine quit on takeoff. Uncontrolled descent to impact. Carburetor float absorbed gas. Service bulletin on float.

## Other investigations on N3081M (1)

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 NYC66F0670](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66F0670), May 26, 1966: Piper PA-12 (N3081M), Princeton, 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.