# NTSB WPR26LA234: Piper PA-12, N3013M, Dixie, ID, June 23, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 23, 2026, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Dixie, ID
- Coordinates: 45.396667, -115.48333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3967&lon=-115.4833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 17, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203246/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203246
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA234

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3013M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3013M), registered now, S/N 12-1573, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-1573
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 5871.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2025
- Departed: MYL, McCall, ID
- Destination: C48, Dixie, ID
- Airport: C48, Wilson Bar USFS Airport, runway 24, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2025; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 24,284 total, 81 in this make and model, 15,800 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: MYL, 40 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMYL 231451Z AUTO 19003KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP188 T01390039 51004 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260623007739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260623007739A), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-12, Dixie, ID, Substantial damage. According to the pilot: I departed for the mccall, ID airport (kmyl) around 7 am for fuel and breakfast. I departed mccall around 9:00 am with the intention of…

## Other investigations on N3013M (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC70A0048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70A0048), Dec 21, 1969: Piper PA-12 (N3013M), Juneau, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203246. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20878051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA234%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 992 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20877113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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