Interstate S-1B2 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, July 27, 1986
On July 27, 1986 at about 9:28 pm local time, a Interstate S-1B2, registered N51AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 27, 1986 · about 9:28 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Wasilla Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Interstate S-1B2 · all S-1B2s on the register
- Registration
- N51AA · registry record · serial 1002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES RPRTD THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM THE WASILLA LAKE SEAPLANE BASE, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMBING TURN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IT ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASH INTO THE WATER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT ENTERED A STALL/SPIN PRIOR TO CRASHING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED MULTIPLE IMPACT INJURIES, BUT ACCORDING TO A POST-ACCIDENT MEDICAL EXAM, BOTH OCCUPANTS DIED FROM DROWNING.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 686 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z16 at 4:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.