Gippsland GA-8 accident near Tuntutuliak, Alaska, June 26, 2024
On June 26, 2024 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2003 Gippsland GA-8, registered N13AV, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Tuntutuliak, Alaska (Tuntutuliak airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after an encounter with a gusting wind, which resulted in a wing strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2024 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Tuntutuliak, Alaska · Tuntutuliak · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gippsland GA-8, built 2003 · all GA-8s on the register
- Registration
- N13AV · registry record · serial GA8-03-028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff roll in gusting wind conditions she applied full power and the airplane veered slightly left. Then a gust of wind brought the nose up and the right wing contacted the ground, resulting in sustained substantial damage. 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,087 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 976 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 7, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,767 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 21, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 3,406 hours total
- Operator: Grant Aviation INC
The flight
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Runway 02/2, 3,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.66 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from ANA, 28 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PANA 262156Z AUTO 11014G21KT 10SM OVC044 13/10 A2966 RMK AO2 RAE23 SLP044 P0000 T01280100 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of damage to the bottom of the wing and aileron
Photograph 2 – View of damage to the top of the wing
Photograph 3 – View of wingtip damageThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2025. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 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
- N13AV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Gippsland GA-8 21 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Gippsland 23 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tuntutuliak Airport · nearest airport
- Bethel Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC24LA055.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.