Amateur-built SA-100 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 26, 1986
On September 26, 1986 at about 2:02 am local time, a amateur-built SA-100, registered N578A, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 26, 1986 · about 2:02 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-100
- Registration
- N578A · no longer on the register · serial LW-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE OF A BOEING 747 JET, THIS AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CRASH NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT WAS ISSUED WAKE TURBULENCE ADVISORY.
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: 480 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,080 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from ANC, 1 miles away
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.
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.