# NTSB GAA16CA008: Piper PA, N7879H, Glennallen, AK, October 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2015, 18:20 local (Oct 7, 2015, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Glennallen, AK - Coordinates: 62.24139, -146.012222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2414&lon=-146.0122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92138/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92138 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land, resulting in a collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during a landing at an airstrip, he did not realize that he was not centered on the airstrip. The pilot reported that the left wing tip struck a tree during the approach to land. He reported that he tried to control the airplane after the initial impact, however the left wing impacted a second tree, and the airplane collided with the terrain coming to rest in the brush. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during a landing at an airstrip, he did not realize that he was not centered on the airstrip. The pilot reported that the left wing tip struck a tree during the approach to land. He reported that he tried to control the airplane after the initial impact, however the left wing impacted a second tree, and the airplane collided with the terrain coming to rest in the brush. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7879H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7879H), registered now, S/N 12-782, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-782 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3662.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James and Deborah Lorence - Registered owner: James and Deborah Lorence - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2015 - Departed: Z93, Copper Center, AK - Destination: PAGK, Glennallen, AK - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 106 total, 40 in this make and model, 62 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: PAGK, 21 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 20151006017139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151006017139A), Oct 6, 2015: Piper PA-12, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot departed Gulkana Airport (gkn) at 1740 for copper center airport (Z93) while returning to gkn the pilot deviated to the east and saw an off-airport… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92138. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF 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.