Amateur-built WAG AERO 2+2 accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, March 8, 2013
On March 8, 2013 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built WAG AERO 2+2, registered N86LN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chickaloon, Alaska (Private airport). 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 pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2013 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WAG AERO 2+2
- Registration
- N86LN · no longer on the register · serial 348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing his wheel/ski-equipped homebuilt airplane on a remote, frozen, snow-covered lake that was surrounded by trees. After touchdown, the pilot noticed that the airplane was at a high groundspeed and that there was very little drag on the skis. With only 600 feet remaining to the tree line, he added power to abort the landing. He reported that, after he aborted the landing, the airplane could not maintain climb speed or clear the trees at the end of the landing site. In an attempt to cushion the impact, he applied full flaps. The airplane impacted trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,022 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,074 as pilot in command; 970 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 13, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,011 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV Chugiak AK at 9:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Chickaloon AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.