Cessna 150 accident near Duffys Tavern, Alaska, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3200X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duffys Tavern, Alaska (Duffy'S Tavern 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
THE SELECTION OF THE SOFT SANDY STRIP FOR TAKEOFF BY THE PILOT AND HIS PREMATURE LIFTOFF COMBINED TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTAIN CLIMB AIRSPEED BEFORE COLLIDING WITH BUSHES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Duffys Tavern, Alaska · Duffy'S Tavern
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3200X · registry record · serial 15064600
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER LIFTOFF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT 'ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO CLEAR 10' TO 12' BRUSH AT END OF STRIP.' THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE VEGATATION AND SPUN AROUND BEFORE COMING TO REST FACING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ALSO ADDED THAT 'THE CONDITION OF THE STRIP PROBABLY WAS THE BIG FACTOR AS THERE WERE SANDY POCKETS THAT SLOWED OUR T.O. RUN.'
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,302 as pilot in command; 345 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,303 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°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.
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.