Piper PA-18-150 accident near Homer, Alaska, September 8, 2012
On September 8, 2012 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3214D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Homer, Alaska. 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 total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine could not be examined because of the extent of time in salt water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2012 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3214D · registry record · serial 18-8209025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was attempting to land at an off-airport site in a coastal fjord. During the approach, he noticed that the propeller didn't seem to be spinning at the correct rpm. He applied carburetor heat and increased the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The airplane was unable to reach the intended landing area and impacted the water about 20 yards from shore. The pilot attempted to secure the airplane to the shore, but tides and water flow swept the airplane into open water. The airplane was later recovered by a fishing vessel, but, due to the length of time spent in salt water, the engine was not able to be examined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Ditching during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2012; 40 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Homer AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Homer AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAHO, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.