Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Monroe, Washington, September 8, 2012
On September 8, 2012 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N3702F, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Monroe, Washington (Harvey Field 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
A loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2012 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · Harvey Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N3702F · registry record · serial 0739
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner reported that, after completing several aerobatic maneuvers, he and the flight instructor were returning to the departure airport when the engine began to lose power. The pilot made several attempts to regain engine power but was unsuccessful, and he then asked the flight instructor to fly the airplane. The flight instructor set the airplane for best glide and made a forced landing in a freshly plowed open field. During the landing on soft terrain, the main landing gear sank into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The engine ran normally during an engine test run, and postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Effect on equipment
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 479 hours in all; 148 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: None (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 799.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2012; 799.0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1GG (piston); 800 hours total
- Operator: Lakes Loopers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAE, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.