Amateur-built TEIRRA II accident near North Pole, Alaska, July 31, 1994
On July 31, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TEIRRA II (ultralight), registered N43111, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Pole, 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 SEIZURE OF THE NO. 2 CYLINDER AS A RESULT OF AN INADEQUATE COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TEIRRA II
- Registration
- N43111 · no longer on the register · serial 121691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 ENGINE CYLINDER HAD OVERHEATED AND SEIZED UP. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
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: 230 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1993; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.