Piper PA-12 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, September 23, 1983
On September 23, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N4008M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- September 23, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Wasilla
- 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
- N4008M · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING INTEMITTENTLY AFTER HE WAS OVER TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT SET UP FOR AND ACCOMPLISHED A FORCED LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE GAS CAPS WERE ALMOST FLUSH WITH THE WING AND ALLOWED WATER TO COLLECTAT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE FILLER NECK.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,350 hours in all; 5,050 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 7,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1983; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.