Piper PA-28 accident near Kenai, Alaska, June 29, 1989
On June 29, 1989 at about 1:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N5302W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai airport). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE IN STARTING THE ENGINE AND/OR HIS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. THE PASSENGER'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT RESULTED IN HER IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLE WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1989 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N5302W · registry record · serial 28-353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS HAND PROPPING HIS ACFT WHILE HIS WIFE, WHO WAS NOT A PLT, WAS AT THE CONTROLS. WHEN THE ENG STARTED, SHE TRIED TO FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO 'THROTTLE DOWN,' BUT INCREASED THE THROTTLE SETTING, INSTEAD OF DECREASING IT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE ACFT OR SHUT DOWN THE ENG BEFORE THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A PARKED AIRPLANE. BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 167 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 329 as pilot in command; 31 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ENA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:47 pm from ENA
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.
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.