Aeronca 11AC accident near Kahiltna Glac., Alaska, April 9, 1991
On April 9, 1991 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N3436E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahiltna Glac., Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DOWNDRAFT AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1991 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kahiltna Glac., Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3436E · no longer on the register · serial 11AC-1748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL COMING OUT OF A MOUNTAIN BOWL, HE ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. HE ADDED FULL POWER, WHICH DID NOT ARREST THE DESCENT, BEFORE THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE AIR HAD BEEN CALM WHEN HE FLEW.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 720 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 679 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,159 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1990; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-8-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK44 Talkeetna AK at 3:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.