Eek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eek, Alaska 99578
Saturday, November 25, 1989 15:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/25/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City EEK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99578
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EEK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 40
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1089
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 25 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39366
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5511J
NTSB Number ANC90LA014
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-976
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KUSKO AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1423
Aircraft Owner City BETHEL
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1236
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99559
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code EEK
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WTL
Destination City TUNTUTALICK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 1300
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --