# NTSB ANC89FA009: Piper PA-12, N3153M, Little Heart Lk, AK, October 13, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1988, 19:00 local (Oct 13, 1988, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Little Heart Lk, AK
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89FA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5095/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA009

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND CALLED A LOCAL PILOT IN THE TALKEETNA AREA FOR WEATHER AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE LAKE TO DETERMINE IF THE LAKE'S SURFACE HAD FROZEN. HE THEN DEPARTED FOR THE LAKE AT 1800 ADT AND WAS NOT HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED WITHIN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OF HIS DESTINATION, LITTLE HEART LAKE, JUST TO THESOUTHEAST OF THE SHORELINE. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WERE FOUND DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION. THE WRECKAGE SITE WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES AND ALDER SHRUBS WHICH SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IMPACT OR BRANCH BREAKAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3153M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3153M-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 12-1840, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1840
- Airframe hours: 1430
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John M. Allen
- Registered owner: John M Allen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 1987, 70 hours before
- Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 826 total, 73 in this make and model, 719 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TKA, 17 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 19881012045649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881012045649A), Oct 12, 1988: Piper PA12, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. On approach to a lake, dived vertically into trees.

## Other investigations on N3153M (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 ANC85FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA063), Apr 17, 1985: Piper PA-12 (N3153M), Anchorage, AK, 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.