Piper PA-12 accident near Copper Center, Alaska, April 16, 2004
On April 16, 2004 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3029M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Copper Center, Alaska (Kenney Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to utilize carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb, and a subsequent encounter with snow-covered terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were standing water puddles that washed over the airplane during takeoff, and carburetor icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2004 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Copper Center, Alaska · Kenney Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3029M · registry record · serial 12-1720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following completion of an annual inspection, the private certificated pilot departed a private airstrip located adjacent to the maintenance facility. The airstrip was muddy and wet, with puddles of standing water. The pilot said the sky condition was about 5,500 feet overcast, visibility was about 50 miles, and the temperature was about 45 degrees F. During takeoff, the pilot said that he encountered a puddle of water that splashed over the windshield. After takeoff, about 50 feet above the ground, the engine power began to slowly decrease. There was no engine roughness or sputtering. As the engine rpm decreased, the airplane lost altitude, and the pilot selected an emergency landing area in a snow-covered field. During landing in the snow, the airplane spun to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot said the airplane received damage to the right gear, the right wing, and the fuselage. The airplane was retrieved and examined by the maintenance facility mechanic and the pilot. No mechanical malfunction was found. The mechanic reported to an FAA inspector that during the takeoff roll the airplane encountered several puddles of water. The mechanic also indicated that "the temperature and environmental conditions were ideal for carburetor icing, and poor runway conditions were a contributing factor in the accident."
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: 580 hours in all; 185 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2004; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Copper Center AK at 3:25 pm
- Destination: VDZ Valdez AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC04LA040.