# NTSB ANC95LA047: Piper PA-12, N3680M, Soldotna, AK, April 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1995, 16:00 local (Apr 7, 1995, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.319381, -150.789916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3194&lon=-150.7899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2643/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA047 ## Probable cause THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE REAR PILOT'S STATION NOT HAVING BRAKES INSTALLED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - not installed (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAIL WHEEL FAMILIARIZATION, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE DOING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY DURING THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S REMEDIAL ACTION. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES IN THE AFT SEAT, AND HE BELIEVED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO APPLY DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1995, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3680M, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska. The certificated flight instructor and private pilot aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight instructor reported he was giving instruction to the private pilot in tail wheel familiarization. During the first of a planned series of touch-and-go landings on runway 07 at the Soldotna Airport, the airplane bounced, and then veered to the left after touching down again. The flight instructor said right rudder was applied to correct the condition, and the airplane then headed off the left side of the runway toward a 6-8 foot high snow bank. The instructor stated that power was applied to get the airplane to turn right. The airplane turned right, tipping up on the left wheel and wing tip. Power was reduced to idle and the airplane stopped in the middle of the runway. During the hard right turn, the left main wheel hub failed. The airplane was equipped with 29" racing slick "Tundra Tires." The flight instructor noted that the airplane was not equipped with brakes where he was seated (rear tandem seat), and that he felt he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane because he was unable to apply differential braking. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3680M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3680M), registered now, S/N 12-2631, 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: 12-2631 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Flying Network - Registered owner: Charles P. Essex - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ENA, KENAI, AK - Destination: SXQ - Airport: SXQ, Soldotna, runway 7, 4,973 × 130 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,180 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,125 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °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 19950406009399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950406009399A), Apr 6, 1995: Piper STCPA12, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. Student lost directional control landing. CFI tried to correct with rudder. No brakes. Side load failed wheel hub. ## Other investigations on N3680M (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 ANC93LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA181), Sep 19, 1993: Piper PA-12 (N3680M), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. 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.