Piper PA-12 N3654M accident near Anchorage, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot's misidentification of the runway environment in dusk light conditions.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was attempting to land on an unlighted, gravel runway, at dusk, when he inadvertently touched down in a grass-covered drainage ditch, which was right of the gravel runway. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a drainage culvert, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot noted in his written statement to the NTSB that he was unable to discern the difference between the gravel runway and grass-covered terrain due to the low-light conditions, and he mistakenly selected the grass-covered ditch. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC11CA097 for the full record.