Piper PA-38-112 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 6, 1989
On August 6, 1989 at about 1:36 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2424N, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill airport). It was an instructional 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE TURNING BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1989 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2424N · no longer on the register · serial 3879A0836
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT HAD JUST COMPLETED HER 4TH TOUCH-&-GO LNDG. WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST PWR. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT TURN, AS IF TO RTRN BACK TO THE RWY, THEN IT ENTERED A STALL/SPIN & CRASHED APRX 1/2 MI WEST OF THE ARPT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FND, EXCEPT THE ENG PRIMER WAS FND APRX 3/4 OF THE WAY OUT FROM THE LOCKED PSN, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD SVRL ELECTRICAL CONTACTS BROKEN OFF & ITS SWITCH CONTACTS WERE DIRTY WITH CARBON DEPOSITS. THE IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER, WAS BADLY DAMAGED FROM IMPACT. NEITHER THE PRIMER NOR THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD BE VERIFIED AS HAVING EFFECTED THE ENG PROBLEM. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 70 & 58 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARB ICING CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICING.
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: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,235 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 26, 1989; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:36 pm from ANC, 1 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.
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.