Piper PA-12 accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska, August 31, 1992
On August 31, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N786BH, was destroyed in an accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska. It was a business 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
PILOT EXERCISED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY TAKING OFF WITH A TAILWIND COMPONENT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND IN THE AREA AND THE RISING HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE TAKEOFF PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sparrevohn, Alaska · 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
- N786BH · no longer on the register · serial 12-789
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LODGE EMPLOYEE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF FROM A SMALL LAKE TOWARD RISING TERRAIN THAT HE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TRIED TO TURN AROUND BELOW THE LEVEL AND CLIPPED A TREE WITH HIS WING TIP AND THE SPREADER BARS ON THE FLOATS. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN MARSHY AREA NEAR THE LAKE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE BELIEVED HE MISJUDGED THE TAKEOFF AND POSSIBLY ACCEPTED A TAILWIND COMPONENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,695 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 124 in the last 30 days; 3,447 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1992; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Stony River Lge AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°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.