Piper PA-12 accident near Glennallen, Alaska, May 28, 1983
On May 28, 1983 at about 11:30 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3742M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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 28, 1983 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3742M · no longer on the register · serial 12-2549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PLT & PASSENGER HAD WORKED A LONG DAY BEFORE GOING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HOMES TO ATTEND HOUSEHOLD CHORES. LATER, THEY MET, AND REPORTEDLY, THEY CONSUMED FOOD & BEER. EVENTUALLY, THEY ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE PLT'S PLANE WAS PARKED. THE 2 OCCUPANTS GOT INTO THE ACFT & FLEW FOR A WHILE, THEN LANDED ALONG THE SHORE OF TAZLINA LAKE FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL RELIEF. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THEY TOOK OFF AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, THE PLT WAS EXPLANING A MANEUVER (FORWARD SIDE-SLIP) WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF TAZLINE LAKE. THE PASSENGER WAS DAZED BY THE IMPACT, BUT GOT OUT WHILE THE PLANE WAS SINKING. HE DOVE TO RESCUE THE PLT BUT WAS UNABLE. LATER, THE PLT'S BODY WAS RECOVERED. A CHECK OF HIS BLOOD REVEALED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.103%. AREAS OF SURFACE FOG WERE REPORTED OVER THE LAKE UP TO APRX 10 OR 20 FT ABOVE THE WATER. EXCEPT FOR THE FOG (WATER SMOKE), THE CEILING & VISIBILITY WERE UNLIMITED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Z14 Taziina Lodge AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.