# NTSB ANC94LA122: Piper PA-12, N2389M, Chickaloon, AK, August 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1994, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.739971, -148.219421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7400&lon=-148.2194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA122 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE THE RISING, ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND THE TAILWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT/ASSISTANT HUNT GUIDE AND A PASSENGER/HUNTER WERE COMPLETING A BUSINESS CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT THE PASSENGER TO A GAME HUNTING SITE FOR A GUIDE/OUTFITTER COMPANY. THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 600-FOOT-LONG REMOTE TUNDRA AIRSTRIP IN A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AT 4,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL IN AN AREA OF ROUGH, RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED A SLIGHT TAIL WIND FROM THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DIVERGE TO THE LEFT TOWARD AN ORANGE CONE AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE STRIP. THE PILOT ADDED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1994, at 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N2389M, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with terrain during an attempted go-around from a remote tundra strip on the Chickaloon River. The pilot/assistant hunt guide for Chickaloon Guide and Outfitters, Palmer, Alaska, and his passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of transporting the passenger/hunter to a game site, last departed another remote tundra strip at 0940 and the intended destination was the accident location. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the mishap and no flight plan was in effect. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on August 21, 1994, that shortly after touching down on a rough tundra strip, the airplane diverged toward an orange cone which was located along the left edge of the strip about 200 feet beyond the approach end. The pilot estimated the landing strip to be 600 feet in length at an elevation of 4,500 feet mean sea level in an area of rising terrain. He also indicated that during the final approach phase of the landing, he encountered a light tail wind from the right rear quarter of the airplane. The pilot attempted to go-around but the airplane would not climb and it collided with the terrain. The pilot said that he did not experience any problems with the plane which went through its last annual about 10 days prior to the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2389M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2389M-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 12-1511, built 1946 (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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-1511 - Airframe hours: 3850 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Benedict, Joel - Registered owner: Benedict, Joel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1994, 20 hours before - Departed: AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,350 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,330 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 19940820032489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940820032489A), Aug 20, 1994: Piper STCPA12, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. Tundra equipped PA12 veered on tnundra landing strip. Tried go around but collided with rising terrain. ## Other investigations on N2389M (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 ANC97LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA147), Sep 12, 1997: Piper PA-12 (N2389M), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the touchdown point, which led to undershoot and the airplane nosing over. 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.