# NTSB ANC95LA111: Piper PA-12, N7755H, Anchorage, AK, July 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 1995, 15:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Location: 61.2181° N, 149.9003° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Anchorage, AK, within about 23 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2181&lon=-149.9003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2692/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA111 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH LED TO CARBURETOR ICING AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE PREVAILING CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY JUDGE THE AIRPLANE'S DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - on ground/water, emergency descent/landing - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AFTER A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUN-UP. DURING THE CLIMB, AT ABOUT 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING BUT MISJUDGED HIS APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AS HE OVERSHOT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REBUILT. A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING FAA CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, THE PREVAILING WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT COULD PRODUCE 'SERIOUS' CARBURETOR ICING AT CRUISE POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF POWER, WITH NO EFFECT. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 1995, about 1555 Alaska daylight time, N7755H, a Piper PA-12, collided with terrain during a forced landing in Anchorage and was substantially damaged. The forced landing was precipitated by a partial loss of engine power while the airplane was maneuvering. The private pilot received minor injuries and the sole passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot stated that the accident flight was the first flight since the engine was rebuilt. After a preflight inspection and successful engine run-up, the airplane departed from a private airstrip and maneuvered about 700 feet above the airstrip. The pilot reported that the "engine lost power," but did not stop. The pilot immediately descended and maneuvered to approach the airstrip and land to the north. He overshot the landing strip and purposely stalled the airplane in an effort to avoid colliding with obstructions. The airplane impacted terrain about 200 feet beyond the end of the runway and was substantially damaged. An examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal evidence of any mechanical deficiencies. The reported temperature and dew point near the time and place of the accident were 59 degrees F and 57 degrees F respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart published by the FAA (attached), the prevailing weather conditions could produce "serious icing at cruise power" in light aircraft piston engines. The pilot stated that he had applied full carburetor heat immediately upon sensing the power loss, with no effect noted. He said the airplane could not maintain altitude, but the engine continued to run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7755H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7755H), registered now, S/N 12-653, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-653 - Airframe hours: 2344 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John F. Strong - Registered owner: Badura, Joseph H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 1995, 0 hours before - Airport: O'Mally Sky Harbor ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 7 nm away ## 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 19950721019419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950721019419A), Jul 21, 1995: Piper PA12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. First flight since tbo. Lost power overshot landing on runway. Stall landed to avoid trees. Failed use carb heat. ## Other investigations on N7755H (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 SEA05CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA096), May 11, 2005: Piper PA-12 (N7755H), Snohomish, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll on a sandbar which resulted in the aircraft 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.