# NTSB ANC97LA049: Piper PA-12, N112PA, Kotzebue, AK, April 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 1997, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.240295, -161.190597 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2403&lon=-161.1906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2983/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA049 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi and takeoff. Soft/snow covered terrain was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload ## Analysis The pilot landed in a remote area with a ski equipped airplane. He planned to transport an injured person and another passenger to an airport. The pilot began to taxi across a frozen and snow covered river to begin the takeoff roll. While taxiing, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice, and the pilot applied engine power to exit the hole. The right main landing gear failed at the fuselage attach point. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 1997, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12, N112PA, encountered soft terrain while taxiing for takeoff, about 20 miles north of Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On April 5, 1997, about 1830, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was a volunteer pilot supporting a snow machine race. He landed to pick up an injured driver to transport him, and another passenger, to Kotzebue. While taxiing for takeoff, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice, and he applied engine power to exit the hole. The right main landing gear was broken at the fuselage attach point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N112PA), registered now, S/N 12-2158, 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: 12-2158 - Airframe hours: 2934 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul J. Buckle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1996, 86 hours before - Departed: OTZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 548 total, 156 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °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 19970405004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970405004869A), Apr 5, 1997: Piper PA12, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on takeoff. (From 8020-16) while taxiing for takeoff, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice. The pilot applied engine power to exit the hole.… 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.