# NTSB ANC98LA166: Piper PA-12, N2796M, Tyonek, AK, September 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 1998, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Tyonek, AK - Coordinates: 61.080402, -151.160064 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0804&lon=-151.1601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45143/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA166 ## Probable cause The aircraft's left wheel encountering a hole as the pilot taxied from landing and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Contributing factors were the rough terrain and gusty wind condition. ## 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 - from landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - from landing - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot had landed with a left crosswind on a 900 feet long, off airport landing site. As he was taxiing to the end, the left wheel dipped into a hole, and the tail came up in with a wind gust. The pilot added power to try to keep the tail down, but the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 1998, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped PA-12 airplane, N2796M, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over at an off airport landing site. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight originated from Anchorage, Alaska, for the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during an interview on October 19, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot / Operator report, that he was returning to the site to pick up meat from a hunting trip. He stated that he had flown into the site several times already, and had orange flags in the trees for wind indicators. The pilot indicated that he landed uphill on the 900 feet long grass field, with a left crosswind. As he was taxiing to the end, the left wheel dipped into a hole, and the tail came up with a wind gust. He added power to attempt to keep the tail down, but the propeller struck the ground and the plane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2796M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2796M-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 12-1195, built 1946 (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: 12-1195 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard A. Millar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1998 - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 330 total, 268 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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 19980929039179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980929039179A), Sep 29, 1998: Piper PA12, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. (.19)On September 29, 1998, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped PA-12 airplane, N2796M, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over at… ## Other investigations on N2796M (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 ANC00LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA095), Aug 5, 2000: Piper PA-12 (N2796M), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor was high brush along side the landing area. 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.