Piper PA-14 accident near Port Heiden, Alaska, October 16, 1990
On October 16, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-14, registered N4290H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Heiden, Alaska (Port Heiden airport). 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 TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND, PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND, THE SOFT RUNWAY, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Heiden, Alaska · Port Heiden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N4290H · registry record · serial 14-94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH A 15 KNOT CROSSWIND. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ONLY 2 HOURS IN PA-14 AIRPLANE, AND ONLY ABOUT 13 HOURS IN TAILWHEEL TYPE AIRPLANES.
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: 148 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from PTH
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.
Other NTSB records under N4290H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.