Piper PA-20 accident near Sheshalik, Alaska, June 19, 1989
On June 19, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7735K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheshalik, Alaska. 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-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sheshalik, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7735K · no longer on the register · serial 20258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING AT AN OFF AIRPORT SITE (GRAVEL SPIT) THAT HE FREQUENTLY USES. DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF THE LANDING ROLL, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT BRAKE LOCKED, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SLOWLY NOSE OVER. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS OXIDIZED AND CORRODED. THE PILOT RECOMMENDS THAT A HARD APPLICATON OF THE BRAKES BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO FLIGHT TO HELP ASSESS THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKES.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OTZ Kotzebue AK at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.