Piper PA-32-260 accident near Eek, Alaska, November 25, 1989
On November 25, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5511J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eek, Alaska (Eek airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THE REMOVAL OF ICE OR FROST FROM THE WINGS. THE EXCESS GROSS WEIGHT AND UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eek, Alaska · Eek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5511J · no longer on the register · serial 32-976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A 1300' GRAVEL RWY THAT HAD BEEN CLEARED OF SNOW. HE RPRTD THE ACFT HAD VERY GOOD ACCELERATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, BUT THEN IT SEEMED TO HOLD, INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING FURTHER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT LIFTED OFF, THEN SETTLED & TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 45 YDS BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY. IT CONTACTED UNEVEN TERRAIN WHICH FAILED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE ACFT THEN SLID TO A STOP ON A FROZEN LAKE WITH PROP & WING DAMAGE. ABOUT 30 MIN LATER, AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED 'MINIMUM ICING' ON THE WINGS. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND DRG THE POST-ACDNT EXAM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EEK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: WTL Tuntutalick AK
- Runway 17, 1,300 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.