Piper PA-12 accident near Aniak, Alaska, May 21, 1983
On May 21, 1983 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2725M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aniak, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- May 21, 1983 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2725M · no longer on the register · serial 12-1135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS TAKING OFF DOWNSLOPE & DOWNWIND ON BUMPY MUSKEG/TUNDRA WITH FULL FLAPS. AT APRX 40 TO 45 MPH, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BEFORE REACHING THE EDGE OF A DEEP RAVINE. HE BEGAN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN, THEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE WHICH SPUN THE ACFT AROUND ABOUT 180 DEG FROM THE ORIGINAL HEADING. AFTER REVERSING ITS HEADING, IT WAS ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE TERRAIN IN THE RAVINE. THE PLT LOWERED THE NOSE, WITH FULL THROTTLE APPLIED, & JUST BEFORE IMPACT WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE NOSE TO A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE TREE & REPORTED THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH NON-STANDARD AUTOMOBILE RACING SLICKS (WHEELS) THAT WERE APRX 33 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 180 DEG AT 5 GUSTING 10 KTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- 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
- Departed from: ANT Aniak AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 8
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.