Piper PA-12 accident near Kotlik, Alaska, September 16, 2025
On September 16, 2025 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1947 Piper PA-12, registered N3816M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kotlik, Alaska (Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around in variable wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2025 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kotlik, Alaska · Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12, built 1947 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3816M · registry record · serial 12-2737
- 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, while landing on a remote ridgetop in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the wind unexpectedly shifted. The pilot initiated a go-around; however, he lost control of the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 in flight during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 2,132 as pilot in command; 1,336 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 2025; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 2,778 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSM St. Mary'S AK at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
Weather report (METAR): PFKO 162156Z AUTO 03013KT 10SM OVC070 09/04 RMK AO2 SLPNO T00890044 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC25LA109.