Thurston TSC-1A accident near Homer, Alaska, September 19, 1982
On September 19, 1982 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Thurston TSC-1A, registered N2019T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homer, Alaska. 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 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
- September 19, 1982 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thurston TSC-1A · all TSC-1As on the register
- Registration
- N2019T · no longer on the register · serial 19
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A WATER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A LARGE WAVE UNEXPECTEDLY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS THROWN TO A HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 40 TO 45 KNOT'S AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WITH THE WAVE. HE PULLED THE THROTTLE CLOSED AND RELEASED ELEVATOR BACK PRESSURE. THE AIRCRAFT REACTED AND IMPACTED THE WATER IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE WATER WAS GLITTERY AND UNIFORM AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF. IT WAS LATER REVEALED THAT A LARGE, FAST BOAT HAD CROSSED THE INTENDED TAKEOFF PATH BEHIND N2019T DURING THEIR WATER TAXI. THE PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY BOAT TRAFFIC PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 605 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Homer AK at 12:50 pm
- Destination: Homer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.