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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2023 · about 2:00 am local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna Airport · cases near this 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 other cases naming the engine
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 2 - Right front view of accident airplane after recovery. Photo
Photo 3 – Left front view of accident airplane after recovery. PhotoThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 14, 2023. 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 | Witness Statement Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5987H on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-16 Clipper 276 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Soldotna Airport · nearest airport
- Dutch Landing Strip · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC23LA020.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.