Amateur-built AK RIDGE RUNNER accident near Wasilla, Alaska, April 23, 2016
On April 23, 2016 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 2015 amateur-built AK RIDGE RUNNER, registered N1549M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wasilla, Alaska (Lincoln Village Airpark 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 loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2016 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Lincoln Village Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AK RIDGE RUNNER, built 2015
- Registration
- N1549M · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The light sport pilot was departing uphill from a 2,000-ft-long by 200-ft-wide gravel-covered runway, which was surrounded by trees. He said that, as the airplane approached midfield, it became airborne and the engine "sputtered," so he elected to abort the takeoff. After the airplane touched down, he was unable to stop it before striking a stand of trees at the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A maintenance technician's postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An aviation weather reporting station located 2 miles southeast of the accident site reported weather conditions about the time of the accident that were conducive for light to moderate carburetor icing at any engine power setting; however, the investigation could not determine whether carburetor icing caused the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot, student
- Flight time: 94 hours in all; 22 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 18, 2016; 22 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 89AK Wasilla AK
- Destination: 89AK Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.61 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.
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.