# NTSB ANC25LA083: Aviat A-1B, N900HY, Chisana, AK, August 2, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2025, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Chisana, AK · Gravel bar
- Coordinates: 62.282155, -142.20762 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2822&lon=-142.2076&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200687
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200687/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200687
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA083

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: self confidence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was flying low-level over various remote gravel bars looking for a suitable one to land on. During a low pass over a gravel bar, the airplane’s tailwheel impacted an area of rough, uneven terrain, which pivoted the nose of the airplane down, resulting in a hard, inadvertent landing. The main landing gear wheels subsequently impacted a 3 ft high gravel berm, and the main landing gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing lift struts. A postaccident examination of the landing gear by the NTSB investigator-in-charge revealed all fractures in the landing gear were from overload forces from the hard landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N900HY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N900HY), registered now, S/N 2362, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1B
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1d6) (registry code 41822, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2362
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2024
- Departed: 6k8, Tok, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 128 total, 52 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: AOR, 41 nm away
- METAR: PAOR 021853Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT050 SCT080 17/10 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP186 T01720100 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250802011279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250802011279A), Aug 2, 2025: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Chisana, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was searching for a gravel bar to land on in a remote creek. Upon finding a suitable location he performed several low-level passes to assess the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200687. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19227505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA083%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Landing gear inspection (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19267556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA083%20Landing%20gear%20inspection%20-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photograghs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19228203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA083%20Pictures-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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