Cessna 150-L accident near Alexander River, Alaska, June 12, 1989
On June 12, 1989, a Cessna 150-L, registered N1612Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LAND AT THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE RESULTING HARD LANDING. DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE PRECLUDED A GO-AROUND AND RESULTED IN THE INTENTIONAL SWERVE INTO A RIVER TO AVOID INJURIES TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1989
- Place
- Alexander River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150-L · all 150-Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1612Q · no longer on the register · serial 7215712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED LONG ON AN UNIMPROVED STRIP. IT TOUCHED DOWN HARD WHICH RESULTED IN THE PROPELLER STRIKING THE GROUND. A GO-AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT THRUST FROM THE DAMAGED PROPELLER. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY SWERVED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE ADJACENT RIVER TO AVOID PEOPLE & EQUIPMENT ON THE FAR END OF THE STRIP.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 7:05 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1612Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.