Piper PA-20S accident near Gulkana, Alaska, May 14, 1982
On May 14, 1982 at about 4:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-20S, registered N6952K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulkana, Alaska (Gulkana airport). It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1982 · about 4:41 pm local time
- Place
- Gulkana, Alaska · Gulkana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20S · all PA-20Ss on the register
- Registration
- N6952K · registry record · serial 20-57
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER, A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS GETTING DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING IN HIS TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS A PIPER PA-20 THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED FROM A MODEL PA-22. THE OWNER HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 10 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED DURING A PRACTICE LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) REPORTED THAT THE OWNER/TRAINEE WAS DOING SO WELL WITH HIS PRACTICE THAT HE (THE IP) JUST RELAXED. REPORTEDLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT, AND THE IP THOUGHT THE PLANE WAS UNDER CONTROL, WHEN IT STARTED TO MOVE SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE TRAINEE STARTED TO CORRECT WITH LEFT RUDDER, BUT THE MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT CONTINUED. THE IP THEN TRIED TO CORRECT THE IMPENDING GROUND LOOP, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,066 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 5,050 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,325 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKN Gulkana AK at 8:10 am
- Destination: GKN Gulkana AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 am from GKN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.