Piper PA-12 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 30, 1983
On January 30, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2904M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2904M · registry record · serial 12-1318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT ON THE LANDING ROLL WITH A 7 KT RIGHT X-WIND, THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. REPORTEDLY, HE TRIED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER, BUT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER HAD COME LOOSE & BECAME JAMMED UNDER THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A SNOW BERM NEAR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS NORMALLY MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE PLT'S SEAT & IS EASY TO KICK. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE ACFT EXCEPT FOR THE FIRE, EXTINGUISHER CLAMP. AT 1635 AST, THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS CALM.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 103 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from MRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.