Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Little Heart Lk, Alaska
Wednesday, October 12, 1988 19:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND CALLED A LOCAL PILOT IN THE TALKEETNA AREA FOR WEATHER AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE LAKE TO DETERMINE IF THE LAKE'S SURFACE HAD FROZEN. HE THEN DEPARTED FOR THE LAKE AT 1800 ADT AND WAS NOT HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED WITHIN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OF HIS DESTINATION, LITTLE HEART LAKE, JUST TO THESOUTHEAST OF THE SHORELINE. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WERE FOUND DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION. THE WRECKAGE SITE WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES AND ALDER SHRUBS WHICH SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IMPACT OR BRANCH BREAKAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone --
Event City LITTLE HEART LK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID TKA
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1880
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38127
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3153M
NTSB Number ANC89FA009
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1840
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 21 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 1430
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN M ALLEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5413 EMMANUEL AVE.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99508
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN M. ALLEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5413 EMMANUEL AVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99508
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LHD
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --