Piper PA-12 N2701M
13 August 1982 · Polly Creek, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 13 August 1982 at about 02:20 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N2701M, operated by Gary S. Liepitz, was involved in an accident near Polly Creek, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 02:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Polly Creek, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- (Unimproved Beach)
- Coordinates
- 60.0691, -151.4210
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12
- Registration
- N2701M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gary S. Liepitz
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Polly Creek → Anchorage
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC82DA071
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT LANDED ON THE BEACH NEAR THE MOUTH OF POLLY CREEK TO GO FISHING. AFTER FISHING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER CAP ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THIS OCCURRED WHEN FUEL CROSS-FLOWED FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO STOP THE CROSS FEED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, THE TIDE BEGAN COMING IN AND THE PILOT HURRIED HIS PREFLIGHT TO GET OFF THE BEACH DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED AT LIFT-OFF, PROMOTING THE PILOT TO ABORT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 2 OR 3 TIMES ON THE BEACH WHICH WAS UNEVEN, THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENTERED THE SURF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE VEERED AND NOSED OVER IN DEEPER WATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF USING THE FULL LEFT TANK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON, BUT THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ON. HE BELIEVED THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER FROM FUEL STARVATION. BEFORE RECOVERY, THE PLANE WAS FURTHER DAMAGED BY THE SURF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-12 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Near Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Seven Star Flying Club Incorpo | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Eugene, Oregon, United States | William E. Spangler | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Salmon, Idaho, United States | Agricultural Insurance Adminis | No injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | DON E. Temple | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | William W. Dunlop JR. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1982 | Piper PA-12 | Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States | James O. Fiske, JR. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 1982 | Cessna 170B | Near Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Robert Rouille Gaines | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1982 | Cessna 150H | Near Anchorage, Alaska, United States | John P. Ellison JR. | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1982 | Cessna 170 | Near Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Vernon L. Roelfs | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1982 | Cessna 207 | Near Anvik, Alaska, United States | Byron R. Walton | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 1982 | De Havilland DHC-6-200 | Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States | Gifford Aviation | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Dec 1982 | Piper PA-18-150 | Hope, Alaska, United States | Ward Hulbert | No injuries | - |