Amateur-built Antares MA-33 accident near Trapper Creek, Alaska, May 9, 2006
On May 9, 2006 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Antares MA-33, registered N582AK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trapper Creek, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during final approach for landing, which resulted in the airplane striking a tree, and an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2006 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Trapper Creek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Antares MA-33
- Registration
- N582AK · no longer on the register · serial 001959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was landing the experimental amateur-built, weight-shift airplane at an off airport landing site under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during final approach the airplane's right wing struck a tall tree, and descended uncontrolled, striking the ground on the right side of the landing area. The pilot reported the airplane sustained structural damage to the "trike unit," mast, and wing keel.
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
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 763 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 DC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV Birchwood AK at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Trapper Creek AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.