Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-12 near Tyonek, AK — 2021-09-06

Final reportANC21LA085
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Date
2021-09-06
Location
Tyonek, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-12
Registration
N149AK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of inappropriate terrain and decision to land with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of directional control, an attempted go-around, and subsequent impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing off-airport, uphill, with a quartering tailwind. After touchdown, as the airplane began to slow, he began to have a loss of directional control. He attempted a go-around but had insufficient airspeed to attain an altitude to clear the approaching terrain. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the soft gravel terrain, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage sustained to the right-wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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