Piper PA-12 N7755H

Summary

On 21 July 1995 at about 23:55 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N7755H, operated by John F. Strong, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 1995 at 23:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

O'mally Sky Harbor

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N7755H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John F. Strong

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA111

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH LED TO CARBURETOR ICING AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE PREVAILING CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY JUDGE THE AIRPLANE'S DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AFTER A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUN-UP. DURING THE CLIMB, AT ABOUT 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING BUT MISJUDGED HIS APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AS HE OVERSHOT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REBUILT. A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING FAA CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, THE PREVAILING WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT COULD PRODUCE 'SERIOUS' CARBURETOR ICING AT CRUISE POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF POWER, WITH NO EFFECT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.