Piper PA-12 accident near Kenai, Alaska, May 12, 2021
On May 12, 2021 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1946 Piper PA-12, registered N92793, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai Municipal Airport). 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 pilot's excessive application of the airplane’s wheel brakes while landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2021 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12, built 1946 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N92793 · registry record · serial 12-239
- 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, the airplane bounced during the initial touchdown and then it veered slightly to the right of the gravel-covered runway. To correct for the veer, the pilot applied left rudder and braking, but the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, the pilot noted that he inadvertently applied aggressive braking action, which resulted in the nose over.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 658 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2021; 3 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 1,535 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK73 Nikiski AK at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20L, 1,980 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from ENA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N92793 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.