Amateur-built DHC-3 accident near Sheenjek River, Alaska, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-3, registered N17689, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheenjek River, Alaska. It was a positioning 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DOWNDRAFT, EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL ACTION, AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sheenjek River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-3
- Registration
- N17689 · registry record · serial 4-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS THE ACFT WAS ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON A GRAVEL BAR, IT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. TO AVOID CONTACTING THE WATER, HE CORRECTED WITH ELEVATOR CONTROL & POWER, BUT THE ACFT GAINED MORE ALTITUDE THAN HE DESIRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRAVEL BAR BEYOND THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. AS THE PLT WAS APPLYING HEAVY BRAKING TO STOP ON THE GRAVEL BAR, THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE SANDY TERRAIN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 127 in the last 30 days; 6,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 1989; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-59 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sheenjek River AK at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N17689 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.