Amateur-built SMITH PA12 EXP accident near Beluga, Alaska, July 1, 2022
On July 1, 2022 at about 2:00 am local time, a 2008 amateur-built SMITH PA12 EXP, registered N73AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Beluga, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2022 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Beluga, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SMITH PA12 EXP NO SERIES, built 2008
- Registration
- N73AK · registry record · serial 05004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that “flipped” the airplane over. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 246 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ly-Con IO-360 Exp (piston); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from PASX, 42 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PASX 310056Z AUTO 24007KT 9SM SCT014 BKN027 OVC047 16/14 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP135 T01610139=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2022. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector | 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.