# NTSB ANC85LA015: Piper PA-12, N2520M, Talkeetna, AK, November 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 1984, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.450992, -149.790954 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4510&lon=-149.7910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4444/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,line fitting - leak (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
- Fire, other

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS. POST ACCIDENT FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT. THE ACFT ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. THE PLT SAID THAT HE SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICE. DURING THE PREFLIGHT THE PLT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE GASCOLATOR WHICH HE ATTEMPTED TO FIX. UNABLE TO FIX THE LEAK THE PLT CHOSE TO STILL INITIATE THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2520M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2520M-1989-01-05), registration cancelled 1989-01-05, S/N 121010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1010
- Airframe hours: 1873
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dennis C. Dougherty
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK
- Destination: TALKEETNA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,550 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,310 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TKA, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841110063299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841110063299A), Nov 10, 1984: Piper PA12, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed. Engine quit after takeoff, carburetor ice suspected. Fuel leak ignored by plilot. Aircraft burned after impact.

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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