Alon AIRCOUPE A-2 accident near Cattaraugus, New York, June 2, 1989
On June 2, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Alon AIRCOUPE A-2, registered N6589Q, was destroyed in an accident near Cattaraugus, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION RESULTING FROM THE INSTALLATION OF AN IMPROPER FUEL PUMP. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cattaraugus, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon AIRCOUPE A-2 AIRCOUPE A
- Registration
- N6589Q · no longer on the register · serial A-89
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. AN EXAM REVEALED AN INCORRECT FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN INSTALLED THAT PREVENTED FUEL FROM FLOWING TO THE HEADER TANK.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command; 420 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3DA Flushing MI at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Wellsville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- 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 N6589Q 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.