Stinson 10A accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, September 3, 2022
On September 3, 2022 at about 3:35 am local time, a 1941 Stinson 10A, registered N5847X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Port Alsworth, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around maneuver while landing with a tailwind into a short strip, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2022 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 10A, built 1941 · all 10As on the register
- Registration
- N5847X · registry record · serial 7896
- 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 he decided to land with a tailwind to avoid landing into the setting sun. The remote site he was landing at was approximately 800 ft long. He said that his touchdown speed was “fast” and when the airplane touched down, it bounced back into the air. He attempted a go-around, but the airplane “did not build speed back up,” at the end of the strip he opted to reduce engine power. The airplane subsequently landed in rough terrain and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were 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
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,317.6 hours in all; 113.2 in this make and model; 225.5 in the last 90 days; 75.9 in the last 30 days; 1,233.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,848 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPO Port Alsworth AK at 3:06 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.19 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PALJ, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PALJ 030250Z 24007KT 40SM SCT060 SCT100 16/08 A2919 RMK LAST EST PASS OPEN NOSPECI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2022. 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.