# NTSB ANC99LA131: Piper PA-12, N3824M, Skwentna, AK, August 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1999, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.930225, -151.730575 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9302&lon=-151.7306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47326/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors in the accident were a crosswind, and wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot/hunting guide was landing at a remote airstrip located on a mountain ridge with an assistant guide. The purpose of the flight was to establish a camp for his hunting clients. The landing strip is oriented north/south at 3,500 feet msl, and is 850 feet long, and 30 feet wide. The pilot had landed on the ridge numerous times in the past. The pilot said he made several low passes over the area to assess the landing area and wind conditions. During the low passes over the ridge, he noted a quartering head wind from the right, of 10 miles per hour. He said he landed on the ridge, but just after touchdown, encountered a wind gust that pushed the airplane to the left. He added engine power to abort the landing. The tailwheel came off the ground, and he turned the airplane downhill to the left to gain airspeed. The right wing, and the main tires struck the ground on the downhill side of the ridge. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, and the right wing spar. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1999, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3824M, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote area, about 53 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska, at latitude 62 degrees, 03.978 minutes north, and longitude 153 degrees, 03.011 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area positioning flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot, a hunting guide doing business as High Country Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, an assistant guide with the company, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The accident was reported by another airplane pilot flying over the area. On September 4, 1999, during a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, the pilot reported he was planning to land on a ridge with his assistant guide to establish a camp for his hunting clients. He said the landing area is oriented north/south at 3,500 feet msl in the Ptarmigan Pass area of the Alaska Mountain Range, and that he had landed on the ridge numerous times in the past. He said he made several low passes over the area to assess the landing area and wind conditions. During the low passes over the ridge, he noted a quartering wind from the northeast of 10 miles per hour with no wind gusts. He said he landed on the ridge, but just after touchdown, encountered a wind gust that pushed the airplane to the left. He added engine power to abort the landing. He said the tailwheel came off the ground, and he turned the airplane downhill to gain airspeed, but the right wing, and main tires struck the ground on the downhill side of the ridge. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, and the right wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3824M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3824M), registered now, S/N 12-2744, 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: 12-2744 - Airframe hours: 4100 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffory K. Pralle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1999, 100 hours before - Departed: HARTMAN RIVER, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: runway 36, 850 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,600 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 6 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - 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 19990831025389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990831025389A), Aug 31, 1999: Piper PA12, Skwenta, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 31, 1999, about 1450 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3824M, sustained substantial damage while landing at a… ## Other investigations on N3824M (2) 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 ANC20CA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA058), Jun 6, 2020: Piper PA 12 (N3824M), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to load the airplane beyond its allowable gross weight limits, which resulted in an impact with a tree and collision with terrain. - [NTSB ANC76DAG29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAG29), Aug 27, 1975: Piper PA-12 (N3824M), Kenai, AK, 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.