Piper PA-12 N3697M
16 April 2000 · Delta Junction, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 16 April 2000 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N3697M was involved in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Delta Junction, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 63.6993, -144.8903
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12
- Registration
- N3697M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fairbanks → Delta Junction
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC00LA047
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certificated private pilot reported that while on approach to land on a large, featureless, and snow-covered glacier, he momentarily lost visual reference due to flat light conditions. He said that he was unable to judge his descent rate, and the airplane's right ski struck the surface of the glacier. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-12 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Dutch John, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Cima, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 May 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Big Lake, Alaska, United States | Scott McCavit | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Benjamin P. Hancock | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Aug 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 2000 | Piper PA-12 | Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2000 | Piper PA-18-160 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Cessna 170B | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Marnie L. Starck | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2000 | Cessna 207 | Kotlik, Alaska, United States | Larry's Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 2000 | Cessna 180 | Sterling, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2000 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Big Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 2000 | Piper PA-18-150 | Big Lake, Alaska, United States | Trent R. Davey | No injuries | - |