Piper PA-20 accident near Akhiok, Alaska, September 2, 2010
On September 2, 2010 at about 5:00 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N1594A, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Akhiok, Alaska (Sitkinak Island airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2010 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Akhiok, Alaska · Sitkinak Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N1594A · no longer on the register · serial 20-833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said he had arrived at an abandoned gravel airstrip, and was making a low pass to assess wind and runway conditions for landing. He said while making a pass 12-15 feet above the ground, he decided the conditions were not right for landing due to a crosswind. He reported that as he applied power to terminate the low pass, a gust of wind from the right rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said despite full rudder, aileron, and power, he was unable to overcome the roll. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot said he had not realized how the topography around the strip influenced the crosswind, and how fast the weather conditions were changing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,206 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 1,171 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PADQ Kodiak AK at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Akhiok AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N1594A 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.