Cessna 180-J accident near Glennallen, Alaska, June 5, 1989
On June 5, 1989, a Cessna 180-J, registered N52010, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska (Lake Louise airport). It was a personal 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
PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND PLANNING FOR HIS TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1989
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · Lake Louise · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180-J · all 180-Js on the register
- Registration
- N52010 · registry record · serial 18052439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS PRIVATE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE WATER TOWARD RISING TERRAIN, WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HE HAD ABOUT ONE MILE TAKEOFF DISTANCE AVAILABLE, YET WAS ONLY ABOUT 60 FEET ABOVE THE WATER APPROACHING THE SHORELINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT THAT EXCEEDED THE AIRPLANES CLIMB CAPABILITY, AND CRASHED ABOUT 1/4 MILE PAST THE SHORELINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,628 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1989; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Eagle River AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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.