# NTSB ANC97LA156: Piper PA-12, N7667H, Gustavus, AK, September 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1997, 08:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Gustavus, AK - Coordinates: 58.420921, -135.780563 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4209&lon=-135.7806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3073/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA156 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's improper glidepath, and the rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - proper glidepath - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was attempting to land on a short, remote site to go hunting. He said he elected to fly a shallow approach so that he could touchdown at the edge of the site. The airplane touched down short of the intended area, and collided with rough and uneven terrain. The pilot stated he should have flown a steeper approach, so that he could have kept the intended landing spot in sight. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1997, about 0815 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N7667H, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located approximately 35 miles north of Gustavus, Alaska. The private pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a formal flight plan. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 29, the pilot reported he was attempting to return to his previously established hunting camp. He said the landing site was fairly short, and he was attempting to touchdown as close as possible to the beginning of the landing area. He said he landed short of his intended spot, and encountered rough terrain and brush, which caused damage to the wings and tail section of the airplane. In his written statement to the NTSB, the pilot noted he made a shallow approach to the proposed landing site. He said he made the shallow approach so that he could land on the edge of the selected area, but that he should have made a steeper approach that would have allowed him to keep his intended landing spot in sight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7667H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7667H), registered now, S/N 12535, built 1957 (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 O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-535 - Airframe hours: 1444 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul D. Krogstad - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 1997, 40 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °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 19970926029169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970926029169A), Sep 26, 1997: Piper PA12, Gustavus, AK, Substantial damage. Landed in brush and rough terrain on attempted short field landing on remote short strip. 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.