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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2012 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · Harvey Field Airport · cases near this 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 29, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Searles | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Allen | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Aircraft/engine Inspection Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3702F on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Great Lakes 2 168 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Great Lakes 168 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1GG 884 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Harvey Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,630 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR12LA409.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.