The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ANC87LA007 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Interstate S-1B1 accident near Eureka Creek, Alaska, October 21, 1986

On October 21, 1986 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Interstate S-1B1, registered N46243, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka Creek, Alaska (Eureka Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
October 21, 1986 · about 7:00 pm local time
Place
Eureka Creek, Alaska · Eureka Creek
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Interstate S-1B1 · all S-1B1s on the register
Registration
N46243 · registry record · serial 162
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING & IT COLLIDED WITH A LARGE METAL SLUICE BOX THAT WAS LOCATED BESIDE THE RUNWAY. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST & WAS GUSTY. THE DIRT RUWAY WAS FROZEN, ROUGH &RUTTED.

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: 109 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: North Pole AK at 12:00 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 34

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 40 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.