Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to abort the landing. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point. An additional factor was a ditch.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 3, 2001, about 2015 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N5129Y, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off-airport site, about 30 miles west of Tok, 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 about 1945, from the Tok Airport, Tok.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 4, the pilot reported that he was landing to the east on a 700 feet long site. He said that as the airplane's main wheels touched down, the airplane bounced. He recovered from the bounce, and flew further down the runway and landed about midfield on the site. He said that during the landing roll, while applying heavy braking, the left main wheel struck a small ditch at the end of the site, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage.
The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC01LA133