Piper PA 12 N4088M

Summary

On 6 September 2017 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA 12 registered N4088M was involved in an accident near Kotzebue, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2017 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

67.3531, -160.4939

Aircraft

Piper PA 12

Registration

N4088M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kotzebue → Kotzebue

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA527

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on an unimproved airstrip in gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing uphill on an unimproved gravel airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane landed "smooth." He added that, while taxiing to the crest of the hill, a wind gust forced the airplane to become airborne. The airplane then drifted to the left, and he attempted to correct with full right aileron and maximum power. The airplane continued to bank left until "the wind forced the tail in a counter clockwise motion," which resulted in the airplane landing on the right main landing gear (MLG). Subsequently, the right MLG collapsed, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the weather at the time of the accident to be wind from 360° at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot landed on about a 360° heading.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.