Piper PA-20 accident near Eureka, Alaska, July 8, 1989
On July 8, 1989 at about 7:00 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7029K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka, Alaska (Dirt Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1989 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Eureka, Alaska · Dirt Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7029K · registry record · serial 20-138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN HIS AIRPLANE & HAD MADE NUMEROUS TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES, THE SKY WAS CLEAR & THE AIRSTRIP ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 4000 FT. JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED ONCE, THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY AS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED IT OFF. SUBSQUENTLY THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A LANDING ON UNEVEN TUNDRA. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITTIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRPLANE. THE CARBURETOR COMPOSITE FLOAT WAS WEIGHTED & FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFIED LIMITS, BUT WHEN SECTIONED, IT GAVE OFF A SLIGHT HYDROCARBONODOR. VAPOR PRESSURE OF THE AUTO FUEL WAS RPRTD TO BE 15 PSI AS COMPARED TO 5 PSI FOR 100 OCTANE AVIATION FUEL (AUTO FUEL MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VAPOR LOCK).
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: 189 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1989; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D-135 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.