Piper PA-20 accident near Stebbins, Alaska, November 8, 1991
On November 8, 1991 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N1685A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stebbins, Alaska (Stebbins airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1991 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Stebbins, Alaska · Stebbins · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N1685A · no longer on the register · serial 20-853
- 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 AS THE UPWIND MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE UPWIND WING BEGAN TO RISE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT. HE ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND BUT THE UPWIND WING CONTINUED UPWARD AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, THE DOWNWIND GEAR, AND THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND SLID ACROSS A FROZEN LAKE. THE WIND WAS A DIRECT CROSSWIND BLOWING AT 10 TO 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 384 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,334 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1991; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNK Unalakleet AK at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 3,212 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°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.