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ANC11CA025

2011-04-10 · Delta Junction, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport AK09

Current FAA registration · N3613M

Make / Model
PIPER PA-12
Year of manufacture
1947 · 64 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570306
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A412D0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's misjudged altitude while landing in bright sunlight on an airstrip surrounded by snow, resulting in an undershoot and a nose over.

Factual narrative

The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings on a grass airstrip. He said snow had been removed from the center of the grass airstrip, but not the surrounding area. During his approach to land, he said bright sunlight reflected off the snow made him lose his depth perception, and the airplane touched down short of the runway, nosing over in deep snow. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings. According to the pilot, he was practicing takeoffs and landings on a grass airstrip. He said snow had been removed from the center of the grass airstrip, but not the surrounding area. During his approach to land, bright sunlight reflected off the snow that made him lose his depth perception. The airplane touched down short of the runway, nosing over in deep snow. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-(general)-(general)-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Bright light-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_ANC11CA025.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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