Amateur-built LONG EZ/52 accident near Palmer, Alaska, September 28, 1989
On September 28, 1989 at about 5:00 am local time, a amateur-built LONG EZ/52, registered N52AK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska (Palmer Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1989 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Palmer Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG EZ/52
- Registration
- N52AK · no longer on the register · serial 52
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT LONG EZ CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA NEXT TO THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT ACCORDING TO LOCAL POLICE. THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A VFR APPROACH WHEN THE IT STRUCK THE TREES. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK REVEALED A TOTAL OF 18 HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE. NO MEDICAL OR TOXICOLOGICAL FACTORS WERE EVIDENT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,061 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 2,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1986; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from PAQ, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N52AK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.