Piper PA-12 accident near Polly Creek, Alaska, August 13, 1982
On August 13, 1982 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2701M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Polly Creek, Alaska ((Unimproved Beach) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1982 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Polly Creek, Alaska · (Unimproved Beach) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2701M · registry record · serial 12-1205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON THE BEACH NEAR THE MOUTH OF POLLY CREEK TO GO FISHING. AFTER FISHING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER CAP ON THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THIS OCCURRED WHEN FUEL CROSS-FLOWED FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE LEFT MAIN AND RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO STOP THE CROSS FEED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, THE TIDE BEGAN COMING IN AND THE PILOT HURRIED HIS PREFLIGHT TO GET OFF THE BEACH DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED AT LIFT-OFF, PROMOTING THE PILOT TO ABORT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 2 OR 3 TIMES ON THE BEACH WHICH WAS UNEVEN, THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENTERED THE SURF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE VEERED AND NOSED OVER IN DEEPER WATER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF USING THE FULL LEFT TANK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON, BUT THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ON. HE BELIEVED THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER FROM FUEL STARVATION. BEFORE RECOVERY, THE PLANE WAS FURTHER DAMAGED BY THE SURF.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 169 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,958 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Polly Creek AK at 6:20 pm
- Destination: LHD Anchorage
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 10,000 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 ANC82DA071.