Summary
On May 13, 2000, a Piper PA-12 (N7944H) was involved in an incident near Big Lake, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi area, and excessive taxi speed. A factor associated with this accident was a ditch in the taxi area.
On May 13, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N7944H, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi for takeoff at an off airport gravel bar on the Susitna River, about 22 miles west of Big Lake, Alaska, at 61 degrees 28 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 30 minutes west longtitude. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge, during a telephone interview on May 15, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that he was taxiing for takeoff on a gravel bar.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC00LA058. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7944H.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi area, and excessive taxi speed. A factor associated with this accident was a ditch in the taxi area.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On May 13, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N7944H, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi for takeoff at an off airport gravel bar on the Susitna River, about 22 miles west of Big Lake, Alaska, at 61 degrees 28 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 30 minutes west longtitude. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge, during a telephone interview on May 15, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that he was taxiing for takeoff on a gravel bar. He added that he was "taxiing pretty fast." He indicated that while taxiing, as he was concentrating on the gusty tailwind, the main wheels hit a big bump and ditch which he had not seen, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he should have watched the area in front of where he was taxiing, and should have walked the takeoff area prior to attempting the takeoff.
The airplane sustained damage to the top of the vertical stabilizer, and right wing strut.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC00LA058