Cessna 180 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, April 24, 1989
On April 24, 1989 at about 11:13 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N7652A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks airport). It was a personal 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1989 · about 11:13 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N7652A · registry record · serial 32549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE IN A RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND OF APPROXIMATELY 07 KNOTS. THE RIGHT WING LIFTED ABRUPTLY DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE GROUND-LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND NOSED OVER.
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: 674 hours in all; 526 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 616 as pilot in command; 59 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,874 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1988; 145 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:19 pm from FAI
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.