Piper PA-11 accident near Knik Clacier, Alaska, April 13, 1990
On April 13, 1990 at about 4:15 am local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4904M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knik Clacier, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FOREIGN OBJECT (TOOL) HAD JAMMED THE AILERON CONTROLS TO THE RIGHT AS THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT FOR A LOW APPROACH TO A STRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1990 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Knik Clacier, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N4904M · no longer on the register · serial 11426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A LOW APPROACH OVER A GRAVEL BAR BEFORE LANDING. HE STATED THAT WHILE ROLLING OUT OF A TURN, THE ELEVATOR CONTROL JAMMED TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE SPIRALED TO THE TERRAIN, THEN CRASHED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A SET OF CHANNEL LOCKS HAD SLIPPED UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD AND INTO THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 482 hours in all; 322 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 482 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 1989; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.