Piper PA-12 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, April 5, 1991
On April 5, 1991 at about 11:32 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N123TL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Strip airport). 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LACK OF CURRENCY WITH THE TYPE OF LANDING GEAR INVOLVED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1991 · about 11:32 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Strip · map
- 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
- N123TL · registry record · serial 12-3969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST CHANGED THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR FROM SKIS TO WHEELS. THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT ON THIS TYPE OF LANDING GEAR. WHEN HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL, THE TOWER REQUESTED MINIMUM TIME ON THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY NOSED OVER. NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 347 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,878 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z40 Goose Bay AK at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N123TL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC91LA048.