Interstate S-1B1 accident near Big Lake, Alaska, March 29, 2002
On March 29, 2002 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Interstate S-1B1, registered N48027, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the exhaust system stack from the heat exchanger. A factor associated with the accident was an engine compartment fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2002 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Interstate S-1B1 · all S-1B1s on the register
- Registration
- N48027 · registry record · serial 11
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff from a remote airstrip, the pilot noted a loss of engine power, and smoke in the cockpit. While attempting to return to the airstrip, the engine lost all power, and the pilot was forced to land on a snow-covered field. During landing, the main wheels broke through the crusted snow, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident inspection disclosed that the exhaust stack had separated from the cabin heater's heat exchanger. The hot exhaust gasses burned associated ducts, wires, and the lower engine cowling.
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
- Flight time: 2,768 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,768 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 2001; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z40 Goose Bay AK
- Destination: PAMR Merrill Field AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N48027 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ANC02LA026.