Cessna 140 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, November 6, 1989
On November 6, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N5606C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Phillips Fld airport). 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE CONDITION OF RUNWAY PRIOR TO LANDING AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Phillips Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N5606C · registry record · serial 15539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO ESTABLISH PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT GEAR CONTACTED A SNOW BERM PARALLEL WITH THE RUNWAY, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. THE RUNWAY HAD 12-18 INCHES OF FRESH UNPLOWED SNOW, FOR WHICH NO NOTAM HAD BEEN PUBLISHED.
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: 340 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHM Lake Minchumina AK at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from FAI, 5 miles away
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.