Piper PA-22-160 accident near Sitka, Alaska, June 28, 1990
On June 28, 1990 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9993D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sitka, Alaska (Sitka 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1990 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Sitka, Alaska · Sitka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9993D · registry record · serial 22-6786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF A CROSSWIND CONDITION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST OFF THE RUNWAY, FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF CONTROL - ON GROUND/WATER during landing - roll
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none
- Flight time: 471 hours in all; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 471 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: WRG Wrangell AK at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°C, dew point 0°C
- Observation at 2:00 pm from SIT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA90LA114.