Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B accident near Matanuska Glacier, Alaska, July 13, 2023
On July 13, 2023 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 2006 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B, registered N460JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Matanuska Glacier, Alaska (Scandinavian Peaks Hut Airstri airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with downdrafts resulting in decreased performance insufficient to outclimb rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2023 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Matanuska Glacier, Alaska · Scandinavian Peaks Hut Airstri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B, built 2006 · all A-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N460JC · registry record · serial 2343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he encountered downdrafts during landing on a remote gravel airstrip near a glacial base camp known for downdrafts and mountain rotors. He elected to depart the airstrip into rising terrain due to more favorable winds. During initial climb out the pilot reported the airplane encountered more downdrafts than expected. Unable to outclimb rising terrain, the pilot performed a forced landing in an area of rough, rock-covered terrain, and during landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident 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
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,020 hours in all; 898 in this make and model; 261 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 3,266 as pilot in command; 620 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PAMR Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PAAQ, 46 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 132253Z 11005KT 10SM FEW035 SCT075 23/13 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T02280133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 1, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.