Piper PA-12 accident near Teller, Alaska, June 9, 2003
On June 9, 2003, a Piper PA-12, registered N2475M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Teller, Alaska (Quartz Creek 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a loss of control and nose down of the airplane. A factor in the accident was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2003
- Place
- Teller, Alaska · Quartz Creek · 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
- N2475M · registry record · serial 1688
- 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 landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel runway with a prevailing left crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the left, and he attempted to regain directional control and abort the landing by applying right brake, right rudder, and engine power. He was unable to abort the landing, and the right main landing gear tire deflated. The airplane subsequently nosed down, and received substantial damage to the fuselage, left aileron, and horizontal stabilizer.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 377 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 2002; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,735 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK49 Taylor AK at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 5QC Quartz Creek AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,960 ft by 64 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.