N78463 – PIPER PA-12 – 2011-09-05 NTSB Accident Report

On September 05, 2011, a Piper PA-12 (N78463) was involved in an incident near North Pole, AK. All 2 people 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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the water.

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane aborted 2 takeoffs to the north from a float pond, after failing to become airborne at his no-go decision point. He said the wind was variable, and he initiated a third takeoff to the south. The airplane lifted off prior to reaching the no-go point, but he felt he was not going to clear the trees at the shoreline. He said the wind may have changed direction or quit, and the airplane was near stall airspeed. He said he had no option but to increase the pitch attitude, at which time the airplane stalled, and impacted the pond.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC11CA094. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N78463.