Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 accident near Kotzebue, Alaska, August 10, 1988
On August 10, 1988 at about 2:00 am local time, a Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2, registered N58AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kotzebue, Alaska. 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
- August 10, 1988 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Kotzebue, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2
- Registration
- N58AT · registry record · serial 1009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT 2700 FEET M.S.L. IN A BOX CANYON WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL & SCOUTING FOR SHEEP. THE TOP OF THE RIDGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3200 FEET M.S.L. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO OUTCLIMB THE RIDGE WHEN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE WINDS IN THE ACC WERE NOT CONDUCIVE TO SAFE OPERATION AND THE PLT HAD BEEN WARNED TO STAY CLEAR. OTHER OPERATORS CANCELED FLTS DURING THE PERIOD OF UNFAVORABLE WINDS IN THE AREA.
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: 1,050 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OTZ Kotzebue AK at 7:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.