- Date
- September 17, 1995, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aniak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3334MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950917029829A
- Case key
- 2741
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable portion of the 6,000 foot long gravel runway for landing. A factor associated with the accident was: the soft gravel berm on the runway.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was landing on a 6,000 foot long gravel runway. He said he did not see a soft, gravel berm on the runway prior to landing. The accident airplane's main landing gear encountered the gravel berm, and the left main wheel separated from the landing gear at the axle. The airplane subsequently nosed down.
Factual narrative
On September 17, 1995, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3334M, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage while landing at Aniak Airport, Aniak, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The flight departed Grayling, Alaska, time unknown, and the destination was Aniak.
The pilot reported soon after he landed on the 6,000 foot long gravel runway, the main landing gear encountered an unseen, soft gravel berm. He said the left main landing gear wheel sheared at the axle, and the airplane nosed down.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3334M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-2192
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Carl A. Walker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Grayling, AK
- Destination
- ANI
- Airport
- ANI · Aniak, runway 10, 6,000 × 150 ft, gravel
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 98 total · 24 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ANI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.