Piper PA-16 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, February 9, 2023
On February 9, 2023 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1946 Piper PA-16, registered N5987H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2023 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-16, built 1946 · all PA-16s on the register
- Registration
- N5987H · registry record · serial 16-615
- 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 on departure the engine lost then regained power. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the airport to land and, during the turn, a total loss of engine power occurred. The airplane impacted a snowbank during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,813.5 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 69.2 in the last 90 days; 28.5 in the last 30 days; 1,763 as pilot in command; 671.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 88AK Sterling AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,001 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PASX
Weather report (METAR): PASX 090156Z AUTO 06003KT 10SM OVC065 M02/M08 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP123 T10171078 FZRANO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ANC23LA020.