OpenAirDocs.org

NTSB investigations: Piper PA-12

15 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper PA-12, where the sequence of events included Loss of control in flight. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20092026

Where

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Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7101202')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s.\"tier2Number\" = '240' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ANC25LA109Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Kotlik, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around in variable wind conditions.Sep 16, 2025 · N3816M · Substantial damageNTSB ANC22FA066Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Arctic Village, AKThe pilot’s decision to depart in turbulent and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.Aug 11, 2022 · N3937M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22FA315Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA12 · Middle Township, NJThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a missed banner pickup, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.Jul 16, 2022 · N3703M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA211Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Seagraves, TXThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.May 24, 2022 · N78466 · DestroyedNTSB ANC21LA077Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Nikolai, AKThe pilot’s loss of control on go-around in gusting crosswind conditions. Contributing to accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt to land at a short off-airport landing site with a malfunctioning airspeed indicator.Aug 28, 2021 · N2579M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA039Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 12 · Dickinson, NDThe pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed during the short field takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.Nov 22, 2017 · N4040M · Substantial damageNTSB ANC17LA033Accident · No injuriesClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA 12 · Skwentna, AKThe pilot's failure to properly secure the external load, which resulted in the load shifting during flight, interference with the water rudder cable, and a subsequent loss of controlJun 17, 2017 · N4018H · DestroyedNTSB GAA16CA232Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 12 · Simsbury, CTThe pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and the airplane's subsequent impact with a fence during an attempted aborted landing.May 11, 2016 · N3506M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA008Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA · Glennallen, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land, resulting in a collision with trees.Oct 7, 2015 · N7879H · Substantial damageNTSB ANC14CA072Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 12 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees.Sep 1, 2014 · N2507M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12FA594Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Rye, COThe pilot’s selection of a flightpath toward rising terrain that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane.Aug 31, 2012 · N3031M · Substantial damageNTSB ANC11CA094Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-12 · North Pole, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the water.Sep 5, 2011 · N78463 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC11FA065Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Delta, AKThe pilot's decision to make a low-altitude turn back to the airport following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the separation of the pilot's seat…Jul 17, 2011 · N92770 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10FA009Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Burlington, WAThe pilot's in-flight loss of control due to his failure to correctly connect the elevator control cables during the restoration/rebuild of the airplane. Contributing to this accident was the pilot's decision to perform a high-speed taxi test prior to having…Oct 8, 2009 · N2087C · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09LA597Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Columbia, MOThe pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which included low ceilings and fog, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power as a result of water…Sep 22, 2009 · N3234M · Substantial damage