# NTSB CHI84FA343: Piper PA-12, N98967, Alpena, MI, August 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1984, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place: Alpena, MI
- Coordinates: 45.069057, -83.43058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0691&lon=-83.4306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12420/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA343

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT FLEW AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE OVER THE LAKE PERFORMING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SERIES OF STALLS AND RECOVERIES WITH THE ACFT CLIMBING STEEPLY TO APRX 150 FT ABOVE THE LAKE AND THEN DROPPING SHARPLY BACK DOWN WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE WATER. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT PULL UP ABRUPTLY AS IT REACHED THE SOUTH SHORELINE WHERE A FOREST OF TREES WERE GROWN TO APRX 100 FT.WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO STALL AND ROLL SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, DESCENDING INTO THE TREES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE, FLT CONTROLS, ENG OR PROP PRIOR TO IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98967](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98967-1985-02-20), registration cancelled 1985-02-20, S/N 12-322 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-322
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard F. Merritt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1983
- Departed: APN, ALPENA, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APN, 15 nm away

## 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 19840812039779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840812039779A), Aug 12, 1984: Piper PA12, Alpena, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. After repeated stalls with recovery near lake surface aircraft stalled and spun into trees. Aircraft out of annual.

## Other investigations on N98967 (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 CHI80FEM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FEM04), Oct 21, 1979: Piper PA-12 (N98967), Long Rapids, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI69D0423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0423), Jan 12, 1969: Piper PA-12 (N98967), Alpena, MI, 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.

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