Piper PA-12 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, May 21, 2002
On May 21, 2002 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2514M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing roll. A factor was the presence of a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2002 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2514M · no longer on the register · serial 12-912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was landing with a left crosswind on runway 07. He indicated the wind sock was 90 degrees to the runway, standing straight out. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing and the right elevator struck the ground. The pilot said the wind conditions were from the north about 12 knots. The airplane received damage to the right wing, and the right main landing gear.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 2002; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,920 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PASX Soldotna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,000 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from PASX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.