Piper PA-11 accident near Kasilof, Alaska, June 25, 1983
On June 25, 1983 at about 3:15 am local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4523M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kasilof, Alaska (Johnson Lake airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 25, 1983 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Kasilof, Alaska · Johnson Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N4523M · no longer on the register · serial 11-27
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT STATED HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET AIRBORNE IN BOTHDIRECTIONS FROM THE STRIP AND WHEN HE FINALLY GOT AIRBORNE HE STRUCK A TREE AND CRASHED. THE PLT STATEMENTS VARIED DURING SEVERAL INTERVIEWS REGARDING THE ENG PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ALLUDED TO A DEFECTIVE OR WORN CAMSHAFT. HOWEVER, DURING A SUBSEQUENT TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PLT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE INADVERTANTLY LEFT THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON WHILE ATTEMPTING HIS 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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 67 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,955 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
Other NTSB records under N4523M 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.