Piper J5A accident near Lake George, Alaska, May 24, 1994
On May 24, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper J5A, registered N35395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake George, Alaska (Lake George Strip 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE BENT GEAR LEG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake George, Alaska · Lake George Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N35395 · no longer on the register · serial 5646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HIT A POT HOLE DURING LANDING AT THE STRIP AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT GEAR LEG, BENDING IT BACK. HE THEN DECIDED TO TAKE OFF AND BRING THE DAMAGED AIRPLANE TO ANCHORAGE. DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO THE BUTTE AIRSTRIP AND LANDED. HE FOUND THE LEFT ELEVATOR BENT DOWNWARD 90 DEGREES. HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL AIRWORTHY, TOOK OFF, AND SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED AT THE LAKE HOOD AIRSTRIP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command; 52 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1993; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Z41 Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 600 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am
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 N35395 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.