Pilatus PC-6-350 accident near Palmer, Alaska, September 30, 1997
On September 30, 1997, a Pilatus PC-6-350, registered N4911, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An underspeed of the propeller system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1997
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-6-350 · all PC-6-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4911 · no longer on the register · serial 543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while departing an 800-foot off-airport landing area, the airplane did not become airborne and collided with trees at the departure end. The airplane was 1,268 pounds under maximum takeoff weight. The pilot had operated from this location about 500 times. Winds were calm. The propeller had been overhauled 32 hours prior to the accident. The airplane had only been operated from a 3,600 feet long runway since the overhaul. A test run of the engine/propeller combination was performed. The engine did not reach design takeoff static rpm required to produce takeoff power during the first two tests. Subsequent test operation of the engine was normal. Testing and disassembly of the propeller governor failed to reveal any defects.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,012 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1997; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IGO-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grasshopper Stp AK at 7:50 pm
- Destination: PAQ AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.