Amateur-built MAX-1 accident near Sutton, Alaska, May 22, 1991
On May 22, 1991 at about 5:00 am local time, a amateur-built MAX-1, registered N4921S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sutton, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE IN MAINTAINING AIRSPEED AND NOT IDENTIFYING THE STALL DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1991 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Sutton, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MAX-1
- Registration
- N4921S · no longer on the register · serial 55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO FLY SO SLOW THAT HE STALLED IT DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER DUE TO A LACK OF SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.
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: 50 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 196 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000; 11 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 60 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wasilla AK at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.