# NTSB ANC89FA144: Piper PA-12, N7542H, Windy Fork, AK, August 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1989, 00:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Windy Fork, AK
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89FA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5121/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA144

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE OPERATING TO OR FROM THE GRAVEL BAR, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  THE RISING TERRAIN WAS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

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

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX DEPARTED ON A SHEEP HUNTING TRIP ON 8/5/89 & WERE EXPECTED TO RETURN BY 8/19/89. WHEN THEY WERE OVERDUE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED & THE ACFT WAS FOUND ON 8/20/89, WHERE IT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN NEAR A GRAVEL BAR. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACDNT MAY HAVE OCCURRED AS THE ACFT WAS BEING OPERD FROM THE GRAVEL BAR. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, CONSISTENT WITH A STALL. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES OF THE ACFT WERE FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. ON AN APPLICATION FOR THE PLT'S LAST MED CERT, DATED 12/16/88, HE RPRTD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 270 HRS. ELEV OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 2800 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7542H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7542H-1990-09-17), registration cancelled 1990-09-17, S/N 12408 (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: 12-408
- Airframe hours: 2574
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jaros, Martin R.
- Registered owner: Jaros, Martin R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1989, 20 hours before
- Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 270 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported

## 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 19890813032069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890813032069A), Aug 13, 1989: Piper STCPA12, Mcgrath, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wreckage indicates a stall after takeoff from a gravel bar. Severe turbulence reported in area.

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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