Piper PA-12 N3849M accident, Eagle, AK, Jul 30, 1994 · NTSB ANC94LA127

Probable cause

Undetermined.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

UndeterminedUnknown

Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause

Analysis

The airplane wreckage was located near the 70 mile river, near Eagle. A photograph shows impact damage forward of the left main landing gear. The fuselage was taped with duct tape just above the wing strut attach point and where the rear gear leg of the left main gear attaches. The circumstances of the accident are unknown.

Factual narrative

On July 30, 1994, at 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane N3849M, registered to the pilot, was spotted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and is believed to have been involved in an accident. The airplane wreckage was located near the 70 mile river, near Eagle, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed an unknown location and the destination was the accident site. No flight plan was filed and meteorological conditions are unknown. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Inspector, the pilot, Bernard Fay, would not talk to him or give any information and demanded that the inspector leave the property on which the airplane was parked.

An NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was sent to the pilot. He returned the form uncompleted with a letter stating that the airplane was not involved in an accident but it had a corrosion problem on the rear gear legs. He stated that whoever filed the report that the airplane was damaged in an accident filed a false report.

A photograph of the airplane, taken by the FAA Inspector, clearly shows impact damage forward of the left main landing gear. The fuselage is taped with duct tape just above the wing strut attach point and where the rear gear leg of the left main gear attaches.

Aircraft

Registration: N3849M
Reported as: Piper PA-12
Category: Airplane
Engine: reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Fay Bernard
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Departed: Unk/Nr
Destination: 70 Mile River, AK

N3849MRegistration cancelled Nov 14, 2012 · Piper PA-12S/N 12-2572 · Built 1947 Airframe modelPiper PA-12 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 45
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours: 1,700 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.

Accident 19940730032659APiper PA12 · Eagle, AKFish and game reported downed PA12 in remote area. Pilot refused to talk and denied accident. Nothing further.Jul 30, 1994 · N3849M · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N3849M · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC83LA002Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBernville, PAThe pilot reported that the plane crashed after the right wing tip hit the top of a tree during landing. He reported that he had flown only 2 hrs in the last 90 days. He noted that this was only a 13 minute flight. He thought that he would have been more…Oct 3, 1982 · Substantial damage