Piper PA-12 accident near Coldfoot, Alaska, August 10, 2006
On August 10, 2006 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7663H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coldfoot, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during an aborted landing. Factors associated with the accident were wind gusts, and rough and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2006 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Coldfoot, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7663H · registry record · serial 12-543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was landing on a mountain ridgeline in a tundra tire-equipped airplane during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 business flight. The pilot said that he inadvertently touched down about 10 feet beyond his intended touchdown point, and he added full engine power to abort the landing. After becoming airborne, a gust of wind pushed the airplane towards the ground, and the right main wheel struck a large rock. The airplane collided with the ground, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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: 1,210 hours in all; 1,175 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,210 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,692.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chandalar AK at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Coldfoot AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N7663H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.