Amateur-built GLASTAR accident near Northway, Alaska, June 21, 2000
On June 21, 2000 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASTAR, registered N2623B, was destroyed in an accident near Northway, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather. A factor associated with the accident were low clouds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2000 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASTAR
- Registration
- N2623B · registry record · serial 5160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, received a weather brief prior to departure. The weather was forecast to be VFR along the route of flight. The pilot made an en route stop 60 miles short of the final destination, at an airport without available fuel. About 45 minutes after departing the en route stop, the pilot contacted the FAA Flight Service Station (FSS) and reported he was 18 miles from the destination, on top of an overcast, and low on fuel. The FSS specialist on duty attempted to provide Direction Finding (DF) headings to the pilot, until the time that radio contact was lost. While communicating with the pilot, the FSS specialist told him that his en route departure airport was 45 miles to his southeast, and that the weather was reported to be VFR. The pilot replied he did not have enough fuel to return. Both occupants indicated that they were able to descend below the overcast through an opening in the clouds. They also said they were unable to comply with the recommended headings provided to them by the FSS specialist due to the clouds and visibility. They said they descended to the level of the trees due to lowering ceilings, rain, and visibility, and finally contacted trees. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and at the intended destination.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYXQ Beaver Creek at 3:45 pm
- Destination: ORT AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 ANC00LA073.