Amateur-built TUNDRA PUP accident near Beluga, Alaska, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TUNDRA PUP, registered N2072Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beluga, 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 INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beluga, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TUNDRA PUP
- Registration
- N2072Y · registry record · serial 89-2001
- 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 HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM REMOTE GRASS STRIP WITH 200 LBS OF MOOSE MEAT. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE STRIP AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE PREFLIGHT PLANNING WAS FAULTY AND THAT HE MISJUDGED CLEARANCE. HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE HOMEBUILT WAS NOT OVERLOADED. WEATHER REPORTEDLY NOT A FACTOR.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 2,740 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1991; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 0AQ1 Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.