Piper PA-12 accident near Theodore River, Alaska, October 19, 1984
On October 19, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N78449, was substantially damaged in an accident near Theodore River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- October 19, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Theodore River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N78449 · registry record · serial 12-1959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT AT THEODORE RIVER LOCATED 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ANCHORAGE, AK. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER LANDING ON A GRAVEL OIL PAD HE REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT STOP BEFORE GOING OVER THE EDGE INTO A SWAMP. HE APPLIED POWER BUT THE MAIN GEAR STRUCK A STUMP AND THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE MUD. THE PLT STATED THAT HE KNEW THE ACFT BRAKES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE ACFT DUE TO THEIR WORN CONDITION.
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
- Flight time: 989 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 128 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Trading Bay AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Theodore River AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- 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.