Piper PA-3 accident near Knik, Alaska, June 12, 1993
On June 12, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-3, registered N91952, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knik, Alaska (Goose Bay airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Knik, Alaska · Goose Bay
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-3
- Registration
- N91952 · registry record · serial 16372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WITH THE STUDENT PILOT AT THE CONTROLS, HAD JUST COMPLETED SEVERAL FULL STOP WHEEL LANDINGS AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE STUDENT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND BEGAN ERRATIC LONGITUDINAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLLOUT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT INITIATED LEFT RUDDER TO STRAIGHTEN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND APPLIED ELEVATOR CONTROL TO GET THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE STUDENT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDALS. THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED TO GO UP ONTO ITS NOSE AND OVER ONTO ITS BACK. PRIOR TO THE MISHAP FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL PUCK CLEVELAND BRAKES, THAT THE BRAKES WERE VERY SENSITIVE, AND AS SUCH TO STAY OFF THE BRAKES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,591 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Merrill Field AK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: Z40 Goose Bay AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC93LA089.