Piper J-3 accident near Parker Lake, Alaska, July 13, 1989
On July 13, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N27024, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker Lake, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AND/OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH AFTER LIFT-OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Parker Lake, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N27024 · registry record · serial 4332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE, THE ACFT FLEW APRX 200 FT, THEN SETTLED IN A SWAMP. IN A STATEMENT AFTER THE ACDNT, HE NOTED HE HAD 'EXCESSIVE BACK PRESSURE' ON THE CONTROL STICK & STATED THAT MORE SPEED AT LIFT-OFF WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. ALSO, HE RPRTD THERE WERE CALM WIND CONDITIONS & RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AREA. THERE WAS ANOTHER PART ON THE LAKE THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A LONGER TAKEOFF AREA.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 572 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.