Mooney RANS S-7 COURIER accident near Big Lake, Alaska, July 3, 1992
On July 3, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Mooney RANS S-7 COURIER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N48PS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska (Big Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS INCLUDE WIND GUSTS AND A WIND SHEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · Big Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney RANS S-7 COURIER RANS S-7 C, amateur-built
- Registration
- N48PS · no longer on the register · serial 0689048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL RANS S-7 ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR DURING HIS INITIAL CLIMBOUT. DURING THIS ENCOUNTER THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE TERRAIN.
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: 579 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 538 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
Other NTSB records under N48PS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.