Piper PA-12 N7712H accident near Mcgrath, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to depart from an off-airport location. He normally departed downhill into the wind, but the wind direction had shifted. He elected to depart up the hill into the wind. At the end of the runway the airplane lifted off the ground but was not climbing fast enough to avoid the rising terrain. The pilot chose to land, the airplane touched down on the tundra and nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC23LA041 for the full record.