Piper PA-28-151 accident near Big Lake, Alaska, May 23, 1983
On May 23, 1983 at about 5:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N43598, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska (Settlers Bay airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- May 23, 1983 · about 5:50 am local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · Settlers Bay
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N43598 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415534
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND STALLED INTO THE GROUND DURING A GO-AROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS USING UP A LOT OF RWY DURING THE LANDING SO HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HE ADDED FULL POWER BUT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. BOTH WINGS MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREES BUT THE PILOT MANAGED TO KEEP THE WINGS LEVELUNTIL GROUND CONTACT. WIND WAS GUSTING TO 25 KTS.
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: 180 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,642 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1982; 115 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z16 Wasilla AK at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 50,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°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.
Other NTSB records under N43598 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.