GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA047
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA047 |
Event Id |
20001212X20752 |
Local Date |
04/16/2000 |
Local Time |
1100 |
State |
AK |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
NONE |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
FULL |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
CLEAR |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
50 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
180 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
10 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
Registration Number |
N3697M |
Aircraft Make |
PIPER |
Aircraft Model |
PA12 |
Aircraft Series |
NO SERIES EXISTS |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
UNDEFINED |
Aircraft Use |
PERSONAL |
Flight Plan Filed |
NONE |
Operator Name |
|
Operator Doing Business As |
|
Owner Name |
RICHARD W. FLANDERS |
Number of Seats |
2 |
Number of Engines |
1 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
NO |
Departure Airport Id |
FAI |
Departure City |
FAIRBANKS |
Departure State |
ALASKA |
Last Departure Point |
NO |
Destination Airport Id |
11AK |
Destination City |
DELTA JUNCTION |
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
0 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
NO |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
1750 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| Lycoming |
Engine Model
| O-320-A2B |
Engine Horsepower
| 150 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
Carb/Injection
| CARBURETOR |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: APPROACH
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
2 |
ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE |
NOT MAINTAINED |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
2 |
1 |
LIGHT CONDITION |
OTHER |
|
FACTOR |
3 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
SNOW COVERED |
|
FACTOR |
Occurrence #2 GEAR COLLAPSED
Phase of Operation: LANDING
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On April 16, 2000, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3697M, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site, about 23 miles southwest of Delta Junction, Alaska, at 63 degrees 24 minutes north latitude, 146 degrees 21 minutes west longitude. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1000, from the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 19, the pilot reported that during approach to land on a large, featureless, and snow-covered glacier, he momentarily lost visual reference due to flat light conditions. He said that he was unable to judge his descent rate, and the airplane's right ski struck the surface of the glacier. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and fuselage.
The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The certificated private pilot reported that while on approach to land on a large, featureless, and snow-covered glacier, he momentarily lost visual reference due to flat light conditions. He said that he was unable to judge his descent rate, and the airplane's right ski struck the surface of the glacier. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
END REPORT