Amateur-built SH-7 accident near Kako Mine Strip, Alaska, June 23, 1990
On June 23, 1990 at about 10:10 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-7, registered N50GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kako Mine Strip, Alaska (Kako Mine Air Strip airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING PHASE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1990 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kako Mine Strip, Alaska · Kako Mine Air Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-7
- Registration
- N50GA · registry record · serial SH 1856
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-SCHEDULED, ALL CARGO, AIR TAXI FLIGHT WAS LANDING AT THE MINING STRIP AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RELEASED THE YOKE WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND GRABBED THE NOSE STEERING TILLER. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT BEFORE HE COULD APPLY REVERSE THRUST, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE CAME UP OFF THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,236 hours in all; 977 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 2,760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,689 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 1990; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-2-201A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: North Star Air Cargo INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BET Bethel AK at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 1,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.