Piper PA-28 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, April 21, 1996
On April 21, 1996 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N8873J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Anderson Lake Strip 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 pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1996 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Anderson Lake Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N8873J · no longer on the register · serial 28-2846
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated private pilot and passenger were departing a private gravel airstrip that was 2,200 feet long. The airplane became airborne to an altitude of about 10 feet. The pilot then noted that the engine did not sound as if it was producing full power. There was not a noticeable roughness or dramatic power loss. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and could not stop the airplane from going off the end of the strip into a stand of alder trees. The nose gear was sheared from the airplane and it received damage to the wings and elevator.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 762 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 528 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1995; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0AK1 at 3:50 pm
- Destination: 5A8 Aleknagik AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.