Piper PA-20 accident near Naknek, Alaska, June 27, 1991
On June 27, 1991 at about 4:00 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N6908K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naknek, Alaska (Naknek City Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING SPRING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1991 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Naknek, Alaska · Naknek City Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N6908K · registry record · serial 20-14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER, HE WAS BEGINNING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING SPRING HAD FAILED. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL OCTOBER 1991, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THE TAILWHEEL SPRING COULD BE EXAMINED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NAK Naknek AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,980 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC91LA158.