Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994 at about 6:07 pm local time, a Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2, registered N74AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Big Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994 · about 6:07 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Big Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2
- Registration
- N74AT · registry record · serial 1025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING SOLO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PORTION OF A DEPARTURE, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO NEARBY TREES. AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING HIS AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.