N3654M – PIPER PA 12 – 2017-03-14 NTSB Accident Report

On March 14, 2017, a Piper PA 12 (N3654M) was involved in an incident near Anchorage, 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 failure to maintain directional control during the taxi on skis on hard-packed snow in gusting wind conditions.

The pilot of the wheel-ski equipped airplane reported that after landing on skis, during the taxi on hard packed snow, a gust of wind pushed the airplane and the left wing impacted a parked, unoccupied airplane.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left wing lift strut.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that about 13 minutes after the accident the wind was 360° at 12 knots, gusting 20 knots.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA188. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3654M.