Amateur-built CHISUM-SCRAPS accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 7, 1994
On September 7, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CHISUM-SCRAPS, registered N1771C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SOFT TERRAIN AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHISUM-SCRAPS CHISUM-SCR
- Registration
- N1771C · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS LANDING AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE AT A REMOTE TUNDRA AIRSTRIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETRIEVING MEAT FROM A RECENT HUNTING TRIP. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DIVERGE FROM THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF LANDING. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND TAIL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 89 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1994; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-E1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 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.
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.