Piper J-5 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, February 15, 1989
On February 15, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper J-5, registered N35038, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN OFF AIRPORT LANDINGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-5 · all J-5s on the register
- Registration
- N35038 · no longer on the register · serial 5-548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,585 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1985; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z15 Chugiak AK
- Destination: Johnson Creek AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 150 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.