Piper PA-12 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 2, 2001
On August 2, 2001 at about 3:13 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7775H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Old Baldy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of left brake pressure due to a missing hydraulic brake fitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2001 · about 3:13 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Old Baldy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7775H · registry record · serial 12-673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was attempting to land on a remote, rural airstrip he had landed on several times before. He said the airstrip is approximately 1000 feet long by 30 feet wide. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right. He said he was unable to maintain directional control by using full left rudder and left brake, and attempted to abort the landing, but collided with brush. During the airplane's recovery, the pilot said he discovered that the left main wheel brake assembly was missing a hydraulic fitting which would have allowed the brake fluid pressure to drop. He said it appeared to him that the fitting vibrated loose in-flight, as his brakes worked fine during the preflight check and taxi.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 925 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 846 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2001; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.