Piper PA-31 accident near Tok Junction, Alaska, May 20, 1989
On May 20, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N87TS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tok Junction, Alaska (Tok airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS FAILURE TO USE A CHECKLIST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tok Junction, Alaska · Tok · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N87TS · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT & TWO OTHER COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH A NEWLY ACQUIRED PIPER NAVAJO. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FOLLOWING A SHORT FLIGHT, HE DID NOT CONSULT THE AIRPLANE'S CHECKLIST & FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE LANDED GEAR-UP & WAS DAMAGED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 6,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.