Piper PA-28-235 accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, February 9, 1986
On February 9, 1986 at about 1:23 am local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N7071C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcgrath, Alaska (Mcgarth airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1986 · about 1:23 am local time
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska · Mcgarth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7071C · registry record · serial 7610046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN DRINKING FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD BEFORE UNDERTAKING THE NIGHT FLIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING IN THE LOCAL AREA IN AN ERRATIC MANNER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT .6 MI SHORT OF RWY 16. IMPACT OCCURRED AT THE BASE OF A SNOW COVERED, GRAVEL BANK. THE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. HE HAD BEEN DENIED FLYING PRIVILEGES BY THE REGIONAL FAA FLT SURGEON FOR THE CONDITION OF ALCOHOLISM. A CHECK OF HIS BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.240%.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,011 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,584 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 23, 1985; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,460 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:22 am from MCG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC86LA026.