Piper PA-11 accident near Gulkana, Alaska, September 14, 1997
On September 14, 1997 at about 1:43 am local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4116D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulkana, Alaska (Gulkana airport). 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control after touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1997 · about 1:43 am local time
- Place
- Gulkana, Alaska · Gulkana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N4116D · registry record · serial 11-1580
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing with a right crosswind of 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot said that on final approach to land, the airplane encountered a downdraft and he did not react quickly enough. The left wingtip contacted a tree prior to touchdown. The pilot stated he overcontrolled on touchdown and the airplane ground looped.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,174 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKN at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.