Piper PA-11 accident near Willow, Alaska, August 25, 2010
On August 25, 2010 at about 3:45 am local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N78831, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Willow, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2010 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N78831 · registry record · serial 11-1605
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses near the accident site saw the accident airplane flying about 100 feet above a river and towards their location on the river bank. As they watched the airplane fly past, there appeared to be nothing wrong with the airplane or its engine. Review of a digital video taken by one of the witnesses showed the airplane flying in a straight and level attitude over the river at a low altitude. Within 2 minutes of the airplane passing the witnesses, they heard an unusual sound, possibly that of the airplane crashing. Associates of the pilot and passenger said that the pilot told them they intended to scout for wildlife during the flight to their intended destination. Numerous moose hoof prints were seen near the accident site. Examination of the wreckage revealed impact damage consistent with a stall and/or spin. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly was discovered during the postaccident examination of the airplane 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin 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 › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 230 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 9, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,098 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LZ1 Anchorage AK at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 6AK Rainy Pass AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from ANC, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC10FA076.