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N3937M accident description

Alaska map... Alaska list
Crash location 65.000000°N, 159.416667°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect.
Nearest city Nulato, AK
64.719444°N, 158.103056°W
43.2 miles away
Tail number N3937M
Accident date 01 Jun 2018
Aircraft type Piper Pa 12
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

The pilot reported that, while landing off airport on an upslope of a ridge, the tailwheel-equipped airplane "touched down harder than preferred". He applied full throttle, initiated a go-around, and attempted to turn towards the downslope side of the hill. The airplane briefly became airborne but then aerodynamically stalled and nosed down into the tundra.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing on upsloping terrain, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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