Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-12 N786BH

31 August 1992 · Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 31 August 1992 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N786BH, operated by James F. Ellis, was involved in an accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
61.1596, -149.9892
Aircraft
Piper PA-12
Registration
N786BH
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
James F. Ellis
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Stony River Lge
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC92LA150

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

PILOT EXERCISED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY TAKING OFF WITH A TAILWIND COMPONENT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND IN THE AREA AND THE RISING HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE TAKEOFF PATH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE LODGE EMPLOYEE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF FROM A SMALL LAKE TOWARD RISING TERRAIN THAT HE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TRIED TO TURN AROUND BELOW THE LEVEL AND CLIPPED A TREE WITH HIS WING TIP AND THE SPREADER BARS ON THE FLOATS. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN MARSHY AREA NEAR THE LAKE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE BELIEVED HE MISJUDGED THE TAKEOFF AND POSSIBLY ACCEPTED A TAILWIND COMPONENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-12 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
23 May 1992 Piper PA-12-150
N7869H
Birchwood, Alaska, United States Donald Barber No injuries -
13 Jun 1992 Piper PA-12
N7979H
Bradenton, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Corkleigh E. White Minor injuries -
26 May 1992 Piper PA-12
N3558M
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States Peter D. Hickey No injuries -
22 May 1992 Piper PA-12
N3717M
Port Bainbridge, Alaska, United States Bruce Johnson No injuries -
7 Jun 1992 Piper PA-12
N4088M
Klutina Lake, Alaska, United States Mayeur, Clint No injuries -
21 Jun 1992 Piper PA-12
N7850H
Kantishna, Alaska, United States Stephen and Gwen Mathis No injuries -

All 813 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Feb 1992 Piper PA-18A-150
N3877P
Anchorage, Alaska, United States John Clark Minor injuries -
12 Feb 1992 Richard C Ballow KITFOX 1
N5154U
Valdez, Alaska, United States Jones, William Marshall No injuries -
17 Feb 1992 Aeronca 7AC
N82380
Sitka, Alaska, United States Diment, Archie G. No injuries -
9 Oct 1992 Champion 7EC
N8958R
Chugiak, Alaska, United States - Fatal 1
14 Feb 1992 Cessna 180
N2788X
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States Sheldon, Robert J. Serious injuries -
19 Feb 1992 Cessna 185F
N4948Q
Pelican, Alaska, United States Bellair, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States