KOTZEBUE, AK, USA
N112PA
Piper PA-12
The pilot landed in a remote area with a ski equipped airplane. He planned to transport an injured person and another passenger to an airport. The pilot began to taxi across a frozen and snow covered river to begin the takeoff roll. While taxiing, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice, and the pilot applied engine power to exit the hole. The right main landing gear failed at the fuselage attach point.
On April 5, 1997, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-12, N112PA, encountered soft terrain while taxiing for takeoff, about 20 miles north of Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On April 5, 1997, about 1830, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was a volunteer pilot supporting a snow machine race. He landed to pick up an injured driver to transport him, and another passenger, to Kotzebue. While taxiing for takeoff, the right ski broke through a layer of soft ice, and he applied engine power to exit the hole. The right main landing gear was broken at the fuselage attach point.
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi and takeoff. Soft/snow covered terrain was a related factor.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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