# NTSB ANC99LA069: Piper PA-12, N78456, Anchorage, AK, June 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1999, 07:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160804, -149.990798 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1608&lon=-149.9908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46564/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions and maintain a proper rate of descent during the approach for landing, which resulted in a hard landing, and the subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear strut. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aborted - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - bent - Main gear collapsed, emergency landing - landing gear,main gear strut - collapsed - directional control - not possible ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land on an off airport gravel bar, with a right crosswind of 15 to 20 knots. He described the airplane developing a high rate of descent prior to landing, and increasing power to slow the descent. He said the airplane landed hard, bounced, and he aborted the landing. He then observed the right main wheel misaligned about 30 degrees. The pilot returned to the departure airport's gravel airstrip for an emergency landing. During the landing, the right main landing gear strut collapsed, damaging the right-front lift-strut. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1999, at 0705 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N78456, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing at the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) personal flight. The flight departed Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, at 0605, for the Alexander River, about 40 miles north of Anchorage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger spoke with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) at the accident site at 0715. Both occupants stated that while attempting to land on a gravel bar, the airplane hit hard, bounced, and the pilot aborted the landing. The pilot indicated the winds were about 15 to 20 knots, from the right of the nose. The pilot said that prior to touchdown the airplane developed a high rate of descent, which he attempted to reduce by increasing power. Both occupants said they heard a loud noise during the landing, and then saw the right wheel misaligned about 30 degrees to the right. The pilot flew the airplane to Anchorage, and decided to land on the gravel strip at Lake Hood. During landing, the right main landing gear strut collapsed. The right wingtip struck the ground, damaging the wingtip and right-forward lift-strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78456](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78456), registered now, S/N 12-1965, 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: 12-1965 - Airframe hours: 2934 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Scott E. Rozmenoski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1999, 14 hours before - Departed: ANC, AK - Destination: Z41 - Airport: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,766 total, 162 in this make and model, 4,870 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LHD ## 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 19990605006409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990605006409A), Jun 5, 1999: Piper PA12, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on June 5, 1999, at 0705 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped PA-12 airplane, N78456,… ## Other investigations on N78456 (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 ANC07LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA056), Jun 27, 2007: Piper PA-12 (N78456), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of an engine magneto during cruise flight, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power, and an on-ground encounter with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the… 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.