Pilatus PORTER PC-6/350 accident near Yakutat, Alaska, July 29, 1991
On July 29, 1991 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Pilatus PORTER PC-6/350, registered N4913, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakutat, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT SAND BAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1991 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Yakutat, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PORTER PC-6/350 PORTER PC-
- Registration
- N4913 · no longer on the register · serial 545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT FROM THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE BEACH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,670 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 311 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 8,870 as pilot in command; 36 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YAK Yakutat AK at 5:55 pm
- Destination: NONE Dry Bay AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.