# NTSB ANC99LA093: Piper PA-12, N3780M, Dillingham, AK, July 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1999, 09:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.819229, -157.859008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8192&lon=-157.8590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46866 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46866/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA093 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight by the pilot, which failed to detect water contamination of the airplane's fuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - tundra ## Analysis The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the airplane had been parked in the rain for two days with the fuel tanks about 1/3 full. About 10 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise at 300 feet above the ground, the engine momentarily ran rough. He said he applied carburetor heat, adjusted the throttle, and the engine smoothed out. About 10 minutes later the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot landed the airplane on tundra, and it nosed over. The pilot told the IIC that he suspected water contamination in the fuel. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1999, about 0920 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3780M, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing about 28 nautical miles southwest of Dillingham, Alaska, at 58 degrees 54.42 minutes north latitude, 159 degrees 20.33 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight in support of his construction firm. The flight departed Togiak, Alaska, about 0900 for Dillingham. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on July 20, that the airplane had been parked in the rain for two days prior to the accident, with the fuel tanks about 1/3 full. He said that he drained and checked the fuel tanks for contamination prior to the flight, with no anomalies noted. The pilot stated about 10 miles from Togiak, the engine momentarily ran rough, so he adjusted the throttle and applied carburetor heat, and the engine smoothed out. He said about 10 minutes later, cruising about 300 feet above the ground, the engine suddenly quit. The pilot landed the airplane on tundra, and the airplane nosed over, bending the left wing lift-struts. The pilot stated during the interview, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that he took off with about 14 gallons fuel, and suspects water was in the fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3780M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3780M), registered now, S/N 12-2710, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2710 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven G. Joachim - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1999, 100 hours before - Departed: TOG, TOGIAK, AK - Destination: DLG, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °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 19990719009299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990719009299A), Jul 19, 1999: Piper PA12, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. At 2015Z, UPS6993 relayed information from downed aircraft. One person on board, no injuries. At 2110Z ena afss called to report a second aircraft overflew the… ## Other investigations on N3780M (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 DEN66D0317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0317), May 12, 1966: Piper PA-12 (N3780M), Roswell, NM, 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.