Piper PA-11 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, February 8, 1985
On February 8, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4523M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna airport). 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
- February 8, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna · 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
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED A GUST OF WIND FORCED THE LEFT WING UP AS THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN. FUUL PWR WAS ADDED TO GO AROUND. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE APRX 100 YARDS SOUTH OF THE RWY. WINDS WERE REPORTED AS CALM AT THE ACCIDENT SITE APRX 1/2 HR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 97 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,973 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:31 pm from SXQ
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.