Beech A-35 accident near Skagway, Alaska, June 23, 1998
On June 23, 1998 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech A-35, registered N575B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skagway, Alaska (Skagway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to ensure the rudder pedals were locked in an operable position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1998 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Skagway, Alaska · Skagway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-35 · all A-35s on the register
- Registration
- N575B · registry record · serial D1594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commercial pilot, and the pilot rated passenger, were landing at their destination airport. The pilot was flying the airplane from the right seat, and was the sole manipulator of the controls. The airplane's right seat rudder pedals can be stowed against the floor when not in use. The pilot reported the airplane touched down, and about 1/2 down the runway, began to veer to the left. The pilot said the airplane's right side rudder pedals were not locked into an operable position, and he could not control the rudder or nose wheel steering. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, traveled through a fence, and then struck the corner of a residence. No persons on the ground were injured.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,130 hours in all; 475 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 920 as pilot in command; 110 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 1998; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYXY Whitehorse at 3:45 pm
- Destination: SGY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,750 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from SGY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N575B 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.