Piper PA-12 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 5:15 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3081M, was destroyed in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Hilltop airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- June 30, 1985 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Hilltop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3081M · no longer on the register · serial 12-1769
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR ON TAKEOFF. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT DISCLOSED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED IN THE ACFT. LAB TESTS INDICATED THE FUEL WAS SUBJECTEDTO HIGH TEMPS WHICH EVAPORATED APRX 50% OF THE FUEL LEAVING ONLY ADDITIVES. INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MOLDED CELLULAR FIBRE FLOAT. TESTS ON THE FLOAT SHOWED IT WAS ABLE TO AND APPARENTLY ABSORBED FUEL AND AS A RESULT IT SANK.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 677 hours in all; 329 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 629 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1984; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:20 pm
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.