Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anvik, Alaska 99558
Tuesady, February 6, 2001 14:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot departed a remote village on a VFR cross-country flight along the Yukon River. As the flight progressed, the pilot said he encountered fog, and descended to maintain visual contact with the ground. The airplane suddenly collided with snow-covered terrain, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. Weather conditions in the area were reported as 100 feet overcast, and the visibility was 1.25 statute miles.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain during descent. Factors in the accident were the presence of fog, and snow-covered terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Anvik
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99558
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 622800N
Event Location Longitude 1600700W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1415 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 335
Weather Observation Facility ID PANV
Elevation of weather observation facility 309
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10439
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1523
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 6 2001 3:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-ANC-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3334M
NTSB Number ANC01LA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2192
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 Sep 19 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 150
Airframe Hours 2015
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Carl A. Walker
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 50
Aircraft Owner City Grayling
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99590
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KGX
Departure City Grayling
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 4Z4
Destination City Holy Cross
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2001 3:33PM
User who most recently changed record RANS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --