Plane Crash List

Piper J-5 N35038

15 February 1989 · Skwentna, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 15 February 1989 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper J-5 registered N35038 was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Skwentna, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
61.9301, -151.7307
Aircraft
Piper J-5
Registration
N35038
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Chugiak → Johnson Creek
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC89LA044

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN OFF AIRPORT LANDINGS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 252 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS SKI EQUIPPED PIPER J-5 AIRPLANE ON A FROZEN LAKE WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LIFT STRUTS. HE SAID THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED A SNOW BERM THAT WAS LARGER THAN ANTICIPATED AND THAT THE GEAR WAS OVERLOADED BY THE IMPACT. THE PILOT RECOMMENDS A CLOSER INSPECTION OF GROUND CONDITIONS PRIOR TO LANDING, AND NOT LANDING WHEN SNOW DRIFTS ARE VISIBLE FROM 100' AGL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper J-5 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Aug 1983 Piper J-5
N28144
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
29 May 1997 Piper J-5
N31164
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
26 May 2002 Piper J-5
N38399
Greers Ferry, Arkansas, United States Paul C. Cassel Minor injuries -
20 Aug 1975 Piper J-5
N31145
Hanford, California, United States
no coordinates
Western Spray No injuries -
21 Apr 1973 Piper J-5
N38427
Fair Oaks, California, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
7 Aug 1972 Piper J-5
N32886
Van, Arkansas, United States
no coordinates
Bullock Flying No injuries -

All 10 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Mar 1989 Piper PA-32
N4257T
Kasigluk, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
9 Mar 1989 Cessna 185E
N70122
Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
16 Mar 1989 Aeronca 15AC
N4433N
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
25 Mar 1989 Cessna 180-A
N9685B
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
12 Apr 1989 Cessna 185
N9850X
Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
17 Apr 1989 Cessna 152
N6479L
Kenai, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States