# NTSB ANC94LA135: Piper PA-12, N3363M, Nondalton, AK, September 8, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1994, 18:00 local (Sep 8, 1994, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Nondalton, AK
- Coordinates: 59.960662, -154.869323 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9607&lon=-154.8693&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): 2566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2566/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA135

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN.  THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE LANDING AT A 700 FOOT LONG GRAVEL AIRSTRIP AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LOCAL FLIGHT TO SEARCH FOR CARIBOU.  THE CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN AERO HUNTING LODGE OPERATION.  THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DROPPED THE AIRPLANE IN FROM ABOUT 50 FEET, DAMAGING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND RIGHT WING.  THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD ACCRUED 6.1 FLIGHT HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 1994, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3363M, owned and operated by Alaska Safari, Inc., an aero lodge, made a hard landing in the area of Sixmile Lake, approximately two miles northeast of Nondalton, Alaska.  The commercial certificated pilot-in-command and his one passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The business flight,  conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of locating caribou, last departed an area near the Alaska Safari lodge at Nondalton at approximately 1700 and the indented destination was the site of the accident.  Visual meteorological conditions reportedly prevailed in the area at the time of the mishap and a company VFR flight plan was in effect.

The owner of the aero lodge reported that during the landing, the pilot dropped the airplane in from about 50 feet, collapsing the right main landing gear and substantially damaging the right wing.  In the pilot/operator report submitted by the pilot, he indicated that the landing strip was about 700 feet long and he had accrued 6.1 flight hours in the accident aircraft make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3363M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3363M), registered now, S/N 12-2219, 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: 12-2219
- Airframe hours: 1585
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Alaska Safari, Inc.
- Registered owner: Alaska Safari Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1994, 17 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 472 total, 6 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg

## 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 19940907026109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940907026109A), Sep 7, 1994: Piper STCPA12, Nondalton, AK, Substantial damage. Landing on remote strip. Dropped to ground from 50 feet above strip. Collapsed right main landing gear.

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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