Piper PA-12 accident near Port Bainbridge, Alaska, May 22, 1992
On May 22, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3717M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Bainbridge, Alaska. It was a personal 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
CARBURETOR ICE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Bainbridge, Alaska · map
- 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
- N3717M · registry record · serial 12-2659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS OVER A BEACH ON WHICH HE INTENTED TO LAND. AFTER APPLYING FULL POWER AND REACHING ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRPLANE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE ENGINE POWER INTERRUPTION. THE PILOT WAS USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AND COULD NOT REMEMBER IF HE HAD APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE LOW PASS.
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: 398 hours in all; 318 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 398 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,131 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1992; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Johnstone Bay AK at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.