Piper PA19 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, July 21, 2019
On July 21, 2019, a 1952 Piper PA19, registered N6PF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Skwentna, Alaska (Talaheim airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around and his failure to assess the wind conditions appropriately before a landing attempt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2019
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Talaheim · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA19 L18C, built 1952 · all PA19s on the register
- Registration
- N6PF · registry record · serial 18-2007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during an approach to land at a remote airstrip, while on short final, the head wind changed to a tail wind and he began to lose control authority of the airplane. He initiated a go-around and applied full throttle, and the airplane rolled left. The pilot was unable to control the airplane due to the slow airspeed, and the airplane impacted a tree on the left side of the runway. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident could have been prevented had he taken more time to assess the weather conditions and ultimately decide not to land at the challenging airstrip.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,068.1 hours in all; 3,735.1 in this make and model; 170.1 in the last 90 days; 50.9 in the last 30 days; 8,022.2 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,851.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 110 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 950 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Pilot) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.