Piper PA-12 accident near Nondalton, Alaska, September 8, 1994
On September 8, 1994 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3363M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nondalton, 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1994 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Nondalton, 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
- N3363M · registry record · serial 12-2219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE LANDING AT A 700 FOOT LONG GRAVEL AIRSTRIP AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LOCAL FLIGHT TO SEARCH FOR CARIBOU. THE CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN AERO HUNTING LODGE OPERATION. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DROPPED THE AIRPLANE IN FROM ABOUT 50 FEET, DAMAGING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND RIGHT WING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD ACCRUED 6.1 FLIGHT HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 472 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 385 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,585 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1994; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Safari, INC.
The flight
- Runway 0, 700 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
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.