Piper PA-11 accident near Beluga Mountain, Alaska, March 28, 1989
On March 28, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4620M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beluga Mountain, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AND TAKEOFF. THE UNEVEN TERRAIN (WITH A SNOW BERM) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beluga Mountain, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N4620M · registry record · serial 11-124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER HAD LANDED AT A REMOTE MOUNTAIN, OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE TO REPORTEDLY PHOTOGRAPH A BEAR. DURING THE ENSUING TAKE OFF ATTEMPT, THE SKI EQUIPPED PIPER PA-11 AIRPLANE STRUCK A SNOW BERM WITH ITS RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SKI. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1988; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z15 Chugiak AK at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°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.