# NTSB ANC98LA137: Piper PA-12, N3200M, Chugiak, AK, August 30, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1998, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.409595, -149.170059 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4096&lon=-149.1701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43878/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop of the airplane during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot ground looped his tundra tire equipped, tailwheel airplane while landing on a dry, hard-faced runway. Postaccident inspection of the airplane discovered no preaccident mechanical anomalies. An FAA advisory circular notes the increased ground control handling difficulties of tundra tire equipped airplanes while operating on hard-surfaced runways. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1998, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3200M, received substantial damage while landing on runway 19 at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight last departed Soldotna, Alaska, about 0715, and the destination was the Birchwood Airport. The accident airplane was discovered by an FAA inspector who saw the damaged airplane parked on the ramp at the Birchwood Airport on September 1, and reported it to the NTSB. During a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator on September 1, at 1600, the pilot related that while landing on runway 19, he applied the brakes. During brake application, the right brake pedal went to the floor and was ineffective. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the left, and the right wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by two FAA Anchorage Flight Standards District Office inspectors, and a certificated aviation mechanic, disclosed no mechanical difficulties with the right brake, or the braking system in general. The airplane had recently been equipped with 29 inch tundra tires, and the accident landing was on a hard-surfaced, dry runway. FAA Advisory Circular 23.733-1, re Tundra Tires, states, in part: "Tundra tires reduce an airplane's directional stability and controllability during takeoff and landing ground rolls, increase its tendency to ground loop during takeoff and landing ground rolls, and increase its tendency to nose over during landing more on paved surfaces than do gravel, grass, and other surfaces that allow the tires to skid easily." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3200M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3200M), registered now, S/N 12-1872 (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: 12-1872 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-EZD 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William H. Smith - Registered owner: Charles W. Dixon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK - Destination: BCV - Airport: PABV, Birchwood, runway 19, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 600 total, 35 in this make and model, 570 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - 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 19980830036109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980830036109A), Aug 30, 1998: Piper PA12, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (.19)On August 30, 1998, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, M3200M, received substantial damage while landing on runway 19… ## Other investigations on N3200M (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 LAX74FUM39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74FUM39), Jun 21, 1974: Piper PA-12 (N3200M), Escondido, CA, substantial damage 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.