Piper PA-12 N92512

Summary

On 12 August 1990 at about 08:01 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N92512, operated by Richard A. Seltenreich, was involved in an accident near Cathedral Rapid, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 1990 at 08:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Cathedral Rapid, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

63.3800, -143.3909

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N92512

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard A. Seltenreich

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gulkana → Tok

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC90LA190

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND A STALL/SPIN WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID TERRAIN. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HIGH WINDS, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WERE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER MISSING FOR 2 YEARS, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON 8/21/92 AT THE 4,700-FT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 200 FT BELOW A MOUNTAIN PASS. THE STUDENT PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR SHEEP HUNTING AREAS. SOME MOUNTAIN PEAKS IN THE AREA RISE TO HEIGHTS ABOVE 8,000 FT ASL. THE CRASH SITE WAS 23 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF MOUNT KIMBALL WHICH IS 10,350 FT ASL. IMPACT DAMAGE WAS INDICATIVE OF A STALL/SPIN ACCIDENT. LOCAL PILOTS REPORTED VERY HIGH WINDS IN THE AREA ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. TIME OF ACCIDENT IS PRESUMED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.