Piper J5A accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, September 11, 2010
On September 11, 2010 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper J5A, registered N35589, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Chickaloon, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive use of brakes during a rejected takeoff, resulting in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2010 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N35589 · registry record · serial 5-693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo private pilot was practicing touch and go landings at a private airstrip under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that after touching down long on the runway, he applied full power, and the engine "coughed," and did not produce takeoff power. He said he was approaching the end of the runway and applied too much brake, and the airplane nosed over. He said previously the engine had been running rich at idle. He also reported that he could have cleared the engine on final. He said his instructor who was watching, told him when he applied power a cloud of black smoke emitted from the engine. He said the right wing, right lift-strut, and rudder were substantially damaged in 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 engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 134 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chickaloon AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Chickaloon AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N35589 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ANC10CA092.