Amateur-built D accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, July 9, 1982
On July 9, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built D, registered N8537P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 9, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built D
- Registration
- N8537P · no longer on the register
- 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 WHILE HE WAS MANEUVERING TO LAND, THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL BECAME LOCKED IN THE"FULL UP POSITION." THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO MOVE THROUGH THE AIR IN UNCOORDINATED FLIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND BANKED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN APPROACHING LARGE TREES WHILE IN A YAW. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLOSE TO A STALL AND HE DID NOT BELIEVE HE COULD CLEAR THE TREES. SO HE REDUCED THE POWER AND CRASH LANDED IN AN AREA OF BRUSH AND TREES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 258 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Soldotna AK at 2:45 pm
- Destination: Calistoga CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.