Piper PA 12 accident near Willow, Alaska, November 2, 2018
On November 2, 2018, a 1947 Piper PA 12, registered N3227M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Willow, Alaska (Willow airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in an emergency landing and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2018
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Willow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 12, built 1947 · all PA 12s on the register
- Registration
- N3227M · registry record · serial 12-2108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the initial climb on the personal flight, the engine backfired and then lost total power. He was unable to restore power, and during the subsequent off-airport forced landing, the airplane collided with a stand of trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A mechanic/friend of the pilot stated that this was the first flight after engine maintenance, during which he and the pilot had been troubleshooting for excessive magneto drops and a cold cylinder. He added that they had just reinstalled the fine wire spark plugs after cleaning them. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that all spark plugs exhibited normal operational signatures with no defects or anomalies noted. Both magnetos produced spark at all terminals as designed. The impulse coupler inside the left magneto was fractured, but that did not preclude the magneto from sparking. Additionally, the wiring harness from the ignition switch to the magnetos was frayed and separated. However, it could not be determined if the separation occurred as a result of the accident. Thus, the reason(s) for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,838.8 hours in all; 51.4 in this make and model; 40.5 in the last 90 days; 11.6 in the last 30 days; 2,766.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,738.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2018; 53 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,039 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUO Willow AK
- Destination: UUO Willow AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 4, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.