Piper PA-12 accident near Kantishna, Alaska, June 21, 1992
On June 21, 1992 at about 7:30 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N7850H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kantishna, Alaska (Kantishna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND AND DUSK LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1992 · about 7:30 am local time
- Place
- Kantishna, Alaska · Kantishna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N7850H · registry record · serial 12-750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED STRONG CROSSWINDS AND STATED HE WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF ON THE AIRSTRIP AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK TREES. THE PILOT HAD A RESTRICTION ON HIS PILOT CERTIFICATE PROHIBITING NIGHT FLIGHT AND THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING DUSK. THE SUN'S ELEVATION WAS -3.5 DEGREES BELOW THE HORIZON.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5Z5 at 2:30 am
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N7850H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.