Piper PA-22 accident near Oshetna River, Alaska, June 15, 1992
On June 15, 1992 at about 7:00 am local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3516P, was destroyed in an accident near Oshetna River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TAILWIND AND THE PILOT NOT UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ATTEMPTED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND THE HIGH VEGETATION IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1992 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Oshetna River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3516P · no longer on the register · serial 22-3269
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING THE ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT AIRSTRIP WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND. AFTER LIFT OFF HE WAS UNABLE TO OUT CLIMB THE BLUFF AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN. HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE DOWNWIND AND WAS STILL UNABLE TO CLIMB SO HE LANDED IN THE ALDER BUSHES. THE AIRPLANE BURNED AFTER THE LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO OR DURING THE FLIGHT.
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
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1991; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: GKN Gulkana AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.