Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Togiak, Alaska 99678
Tuesady, December 30, 2003 14:15 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated commercial pilot reported that while in cruise flight over tree-covered terrain, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm. Engine emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. The pilot selected a snow and tree-covered area as a forced landing site. During touch down on the soft, snow-covered terrain, the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane pivoted to the left, and the left wing struck a stand of trees. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident inspection of the airplane did not reveal a reason for the loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason that resulted in a forced landing, a collapse of the main landing gear, and a collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Togiak
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99678
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 590317N
Event Location Longitude 0602300W
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15967
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 1 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3624M
NTSB Number ANC04LA017
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 217291
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 Jul 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 3226.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sean N. Carlos
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 195
Aircraft Owner City Togiak
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99678
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code TOG
Departure City Togiak
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TOG
Destination City Togiak
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 6 2004 3:22PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
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 --