Piper PA-12 N3904M
16 January 2023 · Anchorage, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 16 January 2023 at about 23:08 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N3904M was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:08
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Campbell Lake (A11)
- Coordinates
- 61.1322, -149.9451
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12
- Registration
- N3904M
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1947
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Anchorage → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC23LA015
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, resulting in the main landing gear wheels breaking through the snow, and a subsequent nose over.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that, during landing on a snow-covered frozen lake in a tundra tire-equipped airplane, the main landing gear wheels broke through the hard-packed snow, and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, lift struts and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-12 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 2023 | Piper PA-12 | Eatonville, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Piper PA-12 | Judith Gap, Montana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 2023 | Piper PA-12 | Porterville, Utah, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2023 | Piper PA-12 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 2023 | Piper PA-12 | Ebeemee Township, Maine, United States | Alberco LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 May 2023 | Piper PA-12 | McGrath, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Willow Creek Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 May 2023 | Maule M-7-235 | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 2023 | Dennis D Downs CCK-1865 | Sterling, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 2023 | Cessna 185 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 2023 | Piper PA-22 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2023 | Piper PA-18-150 | Bethel, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |