Arctic Aircraft CO. INC. S-1B2 accident near Wrangell, Alaska, August 11, 2001
On August 11, 2001 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Arctic Aircraft CO. INC. S-1B2, registered N61AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wrangell, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions during a downwind landing at a remote lake. Factors in the accident were a downdraft, rough/uneven terrain, and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2001 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wrangell, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arctic Aircraft CO. INC. S-1B2
- Registration
- N61AT · registry record · serial 1012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was landing at a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot reported he was landing toward the south because it was the only suitable approach path into the lake. The wind was blowing from the north at 15 knots. During the landing approach, the pilot said he encountered a downdraft, and the airplane began to descend below the planned approach path. The pilot turned the airplane into the wind, but he said he was unable to out-climb the downdraft. The airplane then collided with trees and rocks, and received damage to wings, fuselage, and engine.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 801 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,857 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2000; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 63A Petersburg AK at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Wrangell AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 325° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N61AT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.