Piper PA-12 accident near Dixie, Idaho, June 23, 2026
On June 23, 2026 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1947 Piper PA-12, registered N3013M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Dixie, Idaho (Wilson Bar Usfs Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2026 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Dixie, Idaho · Wilson Bar Usfs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12, built 1947 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3013M · registry record · serial 12-1573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during final approach to a runway in mountainous terrain, the airplane was high. He made a right 360° turn to descend quickly before entering the base leg for . The pilot continued the approach, and the airplane floated down the runway. When he realized that the airplane would not be able to stop on the remaining runway, he initiated a go-around. The pilot was unable to maintain clearance from the rising terrain beyond the runway and maneuvered to avoid obstacles before intentionally landing the airplane on a rocky hillside, where the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,284 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 15,800 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,871.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 12,823 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYL Mccall ID at 3:00 pm
- Destination: C48 Dixie ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from MYL, 40 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMYL 231451Z AUTO 19003KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP188 T01390039 51004 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA234.