# NTSB ANC96LA037: Piper PA-12, N2431M, Cantwell, AK, March 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 23, 1996, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Cantwell, AK - Coordinates: 63.009532, -149.399551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0095&lon=-149.3996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA037 ## Probable cause The undetermined loss of engine power and lack of suitable terrain to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot, on his first solo cross country flight, had just over flown an airport runway that was not suitable to use for landing when the engine began to lose power. He made a slight turn and was forced to land in deep snow. Subsequent examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical reason for the loss of engine power. Fuel quantity could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 23, 1996, at 1000 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N2431M, registered to and operated by the student pilot, experienced a power loss and subsequent forced landing near Cantwell, Alaska. The student pilot, on his first solo cross country flight, was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was Cantwell. The airplane received substantial damage and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During a telephone conversation with the student pilot on March 23, 1996, he stated that he had overflown the Summit airport to view the conditions of the runway prior to landing. The runway was unsuitable for landing and as he passed the runway the engine began to lose power. He was unable to turn toward the runway and elected to land near a road. The pilot landed the airplane in deep snow and the airplane struck a snow bank. Examination of the airplane and engine was accomplished by Ernie's Aircraft Service of Anchorage, Alaska. The examination determined the following: 1. The engine turned freely and was lubricated. 2. The magnetos were timed correctly and the "P" leads were not grounded. 3. The fuel flowed to the carburetor. 4. The carburetor air box was clear of obstructions. 5. The airplane was not equipped with a header tank. 6. The fuel quantity could not be determined because the wings had been removed and the fuel drained. Ernie's Aircraft could not find any mechanical problems with the engine. During the interview with the pilot on March 23, 1996, he stated that he had fueled the airplane the previous day with 19 gallons of fuel. He then flew the airplane approximately 1 hour. He did not refuel the airplane prior to this flight. He stated that the airplane carries 5 hours of fuel on board. He had flown approximately 2.0 hours during this flight. During the pilot interview he stated that he had applied carburetor heat before reducing the engine power. There are no weather reporting facilities at the accident site and the temperature and dewpoint spread are undeterminable. During the initial interview with the student pilot, he stated that the engine windmilled for a short time until he slowed his airspeed. At that point, the propeller stopped windmilling. During a subsequent conversation with the student pilot, he stated that his instructor told him if the propeller stopped windmilling it was a mechanical failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2431M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2431M), registered now, S/N 12-1675, 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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-1675 - Airframe hours: 2535 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David D. Frickey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 1995, 22 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: UMM, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °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 19960323007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960323007469A), Mar 23, 1996: Piper PA12, Cantwell, AK, Substantial damage. First solo cross country. Destination airport passed up due unplowed runway nosed over deep snow. No fuel topoff. 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.