Piper PA-12 accident near Alton, New Hampshire, August 1, 1991
On August 1, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N4436M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alton, New Hampshire. 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'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, New Hampshire
- 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
- N4436M · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND DESCENDED TO 2000 FEET. WHEN HE APPLIED POWER, THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DROP. HE USED CARB HEAT, BUT THE RPM DROP CONTINUED. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN TREES. THE PILOT SAID, 'I BELIEVE IT WAS CARB ICE. AFTER LIVING IN THE...DESERT FOR 5 YEARS, I'D FORGOTTEN HOW EASY IT WAS TO FORM BACK HERE.' THE FAA CHART, 'CONDITIONS FAVORING CARB ICE FORMATION,' SHOWS THE EXISTING TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT COULD PRODUCE 'SERIOUS ICING AT CRUISE POWER.' THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 1.5 HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN THE PA-12.
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
- Flight time: 356 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 316 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°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.
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.