Piper PA-22 accident near Kugururak River, Alaska, July 11, 1992
On July 11, 1992 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N9961D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kugururak River, Alaska (None airport). It was a personal 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS INCLUDE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1992 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kugururak River, Alaska · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N9961D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6752
- 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 TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-22 LANDED ON AN UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP IN REMOTE ALASKA. HE DETERMINED THAT THE RUNWAY HAD A CONSIDERABLE RUT OR BUMP ABOUT ONE THIRD TO HALF WAY DOWN THE STRIP. DURING TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE RIGHT TIRE ENTERED THE RUT AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, HEADED OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER REMEDIAL ACTIONS PROVED INADEQUATE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED.
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: 120 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1991; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AIN Wainwright AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.