- Date
- June 27, 2019, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Skwentna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3914MPiper PA 12
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- FAA report
- 20190627008229A
- Case key
- 99777
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's use of excessive brakes during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from a backcountry airstrip, about midpoint, the airplane failed to lift off, so he aborted the takeoff. He reduced the throttle and applied the brakes. As the airplane slowed and while the pilot was reaching for the mixture lever, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, from a backcountry strip, about midpoint, the airplane did not lift off, so he aborted takeoff. He reduced the throttle and applied the brakes. As the airplane slowed, while reaching for the mixture lever, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3914M
- Reported as
- Piper PA 12 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-2812
- Built
- 1947
- Airframe hours
- 1,086
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2019
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- Skwentna, AK
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 18, 2018
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 235 in this make and model · 240 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- PATK, 48 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.