Piper PA-12 accident near Togiak, Alaska, December 30, 2003
On December 30, 2003 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3624M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Togiak, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason that resulted in a forced landing, a collapse of the main landing gear, and a collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2003 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Togiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3624M · no longer on the register · serial 217291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commercial pilot reported that while in cruise flight over tree-covered terrain, he noted a rough running engine and a slight reduction in engine rpm. Engine emergency procedures did not remedy the engine roughness, which was followed by a rapid loss of engine power, and subsequent loss of altitude. The pilot selected a snow and tree-covered area as a forced landing site. During touch down on the soft, snow-covered terrain, the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane pivoted to the left, and the left wing struck a stand of trees. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident inspection of the airplane did not reveal a reason for the loss of engine power.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,226.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2003; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOG Togiak AK at 5:10 pm
- Destination: TOG Togiak AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.