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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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NTSB Report

June 15, 2002 · Piper PA-12 · N4131M

Kenai, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 15, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kenai, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-12
Tail Number
N4131M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC02LA049

The solo private pilot reported to the NTSB that he was landing on a remote river sandbar in a tail wheel-equipped airplane. He said that just after touchdown, a gust of wind from the left pushed the airplane to the right, and in an attempt to realign the airplane, he applied full left rudder and heavy braking action. As the airplane neared the end of the 900 foot long site, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot said that he applied too much brake pressure in an attempt to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site, and that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the excessive use of the airplane's brakes, which resulted in a nose over. A contributing factor to the accident was a wind gust.

Full Narrative

On June 15, 2002, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N4131M, received substantial damage when it nosed over while landing at an off airport site located about 25 miles northwest of Kenai, Alaska. The solo certificated private pilot was 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 at the O'Malley Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1000. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 16, the pilot reported that just after touchdown, a gust of wind from the left pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot said that in an attempt to realign the airplane, he applied full left rudder, in conjunction with heavy braking action. As the airplane neared the end of the 900 foot long site, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot said that he applied too much brake pressure in an attempt to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-12
Tail NumberN4131M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt, gusting 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data