NTSB ANC06CA096 — 2006-07-23 · Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N4017M

Make / Model: PIPER PA-12
Year of manufacture: 1947 · 59 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines: 3 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A4B3B1

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4017M Piper PA-12 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and colliding with a runway light and the ground. Factors contributing to the accident were an inadvertent ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear.

Factual narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued to turn left. It departed off the runway and ground looped to the right. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck a runway edge light and the ground. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. The private certificated pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued to turn left. It departed off the runway and ground looped to the right. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck a runway edge light and the ground. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_ANC06CA096.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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