Piper PA-12 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, April 7, 1995
On April 7, 1995, a Piper PA-12, registered N3680M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna airport). It was an instructional 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 FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE REAR PILOT'S STATION NOT HAVING BRAKES INSTALLED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1995
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna · 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
- N3680M · registry record · serial 12-2631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAIL WHEEL FAMILIARIZATION, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE DOING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY DURING THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S REMEDIAL ACTION. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES IN THE AFT SEAT, AND HE BELIEVED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO APPLY DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,180 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 3,125 as pilot in command; 1,635 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SXQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,973 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N3680M 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.