# NTSB ANC93LA171: Piper PA-12, N3629M, Ptarmigan Pass, AK, September 6, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1993, 17:04 local (Sep 6, 1993, 01:04 UTC) - Place: Ptarmigan Pass, AK - Coordinates: 62.869949, -153.870315 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8699&lon=-153.8703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA171 ## Probable cause THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY WALKED INTO A TURNING PROPELLER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SOFT RUNWAY WHICH MIRED THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION DURING THE ATTEMPT TO FREE THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF FROM REMOTE DIRT STRIP AND BECAME MIRED IN MUD. THE PILOT DEPLANED, LEAVING THE ENGINE RUNNING UNATTENDED AND LIFTED THE TAIL WHEEL FREE. WITH ATTENTION DIVERTED BY WORK TO FREE THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT WALKED INTO THE PROPELLER ARC AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1993, at approximately 2200, Alaska daylight time, a hunter pilot on a muddy remote landing strip was struck by a turning propeller on his wheel-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3629M. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area, but no witnesses were known to have seen the accident. The pilot had boarded the airplane for the purpose of takeoff, but had left the airplane momentarily to lift the airplane's tailwheel from the mud, and during return to the cockpit, walked into the propeller arc. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal reasons at the time. The private pilot was found the following day to have suffered fatal injuries and the airplane was not damaged. Alaska State Troopers from the Troopers and Fish & Wildlife Protection conducted the investigation on behalf of the NTSB. Footprints found at the scene indicated the activity of the pilot surrounding the airplane stuck in the mud. Interviews of the pilot's companions revealed that the pilot had landed at the remote strip en route to base camp when his airplane became low on fuel. A second airplane landed and delivered fuel and departed the short strip. While overhead, the second airplane's pilot received a radio transmission indicating that N3629M had become stuck in the mud at the end of the strip and the pilot intended to get out and pull it free. That was the last transmission heard from the accident pilot. On the following day, companions found the pilot deceased and lying under the airplane's propeller. Upon examination they found the airplane's magneto switches still in the "on" position and the fuel selector on "both". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3629M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3629M), registered now, S/N 12-2476, 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: 12-2476 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plante, Henry - Registered owner: Henry Plante - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: Unnamed Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk ## 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 19930905033619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930905033619A), Sep 5, 1993: Piper PA12, Ptarmigan Pass, AK, 1 fatal. Stuck in mud on remote strip. Got out to lift tail out of mud then walked into idling propeller. 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.