Piper PA-12 N3846M

Summary

On 14 June 2025 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N3846M was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2025 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (NONE)

Coordinates

64.8733, -147.0157

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N3846M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Pole → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA051

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around with a tailwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While attempting to land on a short turf-covered airstrip, the pilot reported attempting a go-around. He applied full throttle and began a climbing left turn, but the airplane was unable to gain enough altitude to clear the trees off the departure end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the trees and came to rest nose down, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot reported that, during the final approach, the winds were variable between a left crosswind and a tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.