- Date
- June 18, 1991, 15:26 local (23:26 UTC)
- Place
- Kakhonak, AK
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N37611Taylorcraft BC-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19910618026459A
- Case key
- 5560
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The uncertificated pilot failed to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb and the physical impairment by drugs (marijuana) of the pilot. Contributing to the accident was the stall which was not identified by the nonrated pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff the airplane made a left bank, stalled, and crashed into the lake approximately 200 yards offshore. The investigation revealed that the pilot did not hold either a FAA pilot certificate or medical certificate at the time of the accident. Two passengers were sitting in one seat; one passenger was on the lap of the other. The autopsy report showed a high level of drug cannabinoids (marijuana) which would indicate the PIC had been smoking immediately before the crash. Levels found were delta 9 c thc: 31 ng./ml; 11 hydroxy delta 9 thc: 6.6 ng./ml.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N37611
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2050
- Engine
- Continental C-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert Hester
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- 5NK · Naknek, AK
- Airport
- 9K2 · Kakhonak
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.