Rockwell S-2R accident near Larsen Bay, Alaska, May 25, 1991
On May 25, 1991 at about 6:45 am local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4851X, was destroyed in an accident near Larsen Bay, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING AND FOG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1991 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Larsen Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4851X · no longer on the register · serial 2037R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED 1 MILE OFFSHORE AND SANK INTO 185 FEET OF WATER. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WEATHER WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 100 FEET OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1 MILE, FOG. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING LOW, CLOSE TO THE WATER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK
- Destination: NONE Larsen Bay AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.