Piper PA-20 N7029K
8 July 1989 · Eureka, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 8 July 1989 at about 07:00 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N7029K was involved in an accident near Eureka, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 07:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Eureka, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Dirt Strip
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20
- Registration
- N7029K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC89LA118
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN HIS AIRPLANE & HAD MADE NUMEROUS TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES, THE SKY WAS CLEAR & THE AIRSTRIP ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 4000 FT. JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED ONCE, THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY AS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED IT OFF. SUBSQUENTLY THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A LANDING ON UNEVEN TUNDRA. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITTIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRPLANE. THE CARBURETOR COMPOSITE FLOAT WAS WEIGHTED & FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFIED LIMITS, BUT WHEN SECTIONED, IT GAVE OFF A SLIGHT HYDROCARBONODOR. VAPOR PRESSURE OF THE AUTO FUEL WAS RPRTD TO BE 15 PSI AS COMPARED TO 5 PSI FOR 100 OCTANE AVIATION FUEL (AUTO FUEL MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VAPOR LOCK).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-20 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-20 | Sheshalik, Alaska, United States | Wager, James | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-20 | Chitina, Alaska, United States | Strauss, Scott H. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Aug 1989 | Piper PA-20 | Moose Lake, Minnesota, United States | Prachar, Kenneth M | Fatal | 2 |
| 3 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-20 | Gladwin, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-20 | Orchards, Washington, United States | Methow Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1988 | Piper PA-20 | Chino, California, United States | Hill, Brian | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-32 | Kasigluk, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1989 | Cessna 185E | Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1989 | Aeronca 15AC | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 1989 | Cessna 180-A | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1989 | Cessna 185 | Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1989 | Cessna 152 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |