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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 2, 1983 · Piper PA-12 · N2826M

Glennallen, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 2, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Glennallen, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-12
Tail Number
N2826M
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC83FA064

Witnesses reported that after takeoff, the pilot flew by a cabin at approximately 200 ft, signaled by rocking the aircraft's wings, then began a gradual climb. The climb increased in steepness until one witness could see the entire top of the aircraft. It then nosed over, made 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 turns and crashed. An investigation revealed no specific preimpact malfunction or failure. However, an investigation revealed that the aircraft had received 3 major modifications, 2 of which were under Supplemental Type Certificates (STC's). A modified elevator bellcrank had been installed, but there was no floor or protective covering installed over the bellcrank. Only a canvas barrier protected the bellcrank from items placed in the baggage compartment. The edges of the canvas did not extend to the sides, top and bottom of the fuselage, but instead, there was a 2 to 3 inch cap, laced with string to hold the canvas secure. A whisk broom was found in the proximity of the elevator bellcrank.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT FLEW BY A CABIN AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT, SIGNALED BY ROCKING THE ACFT'S WINGS, THEN BEGAN A GRADUAL CLIMB. THE CLIMB INCREASED IN STEEPNESS UNTIL 1 WITNESS COULD SEE THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE ACFT. IT THEN NOSED OVER, MADE 1 1/2 TO 2 1/2 TURNS & CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO SPECIFIC PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. HOWEVER, AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ACFT HAD RECEIVED 3 MAJOR MODIFICATIONS, 2 OF WHICH WERE UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (STC'S). A MODIFIED ELEVATOR BELLCRANK HAD BEEN INSTALLED, BUT THERE WAS NO FLOOR OR PROTECTIVE COVERING INSTALLED OVER THE BELLCRANK. ONLY A CANVAS BARRIER PROTECTED THE BELLCRANK FROM ITEMS PLACED IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. THE EDGES OF THE CANVAS DID NOT EXTEND TO THE SIDES, TOP & BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE, BUT INSTEAD, THERE WAS A 2 TO 3 INCH CAP, LACED WITHE STRING TO HOLD THE CANVAS SECURE. A WHISK BROOM WAS FOUND IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:45 AHST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-12
Tail NumberN2826M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 14 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time14:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data