# NTSB ANC89DAG01: Scorpion II, N5577G, Anchorage, AK, July 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1989, 04:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219951, -149.849166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2200&lon=-149.8492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89DAG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5093/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89DAG01

## Probable cause

UNQUALIFIED PERSON AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE NEARBY BUILDING (AIRPORT FACILITY) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use
  - aircraft control - not maintained, unqualified person (cause)
- In flight collision with object, hover
  - object - airport facility (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO LOCAL POLICE OFFICIALS, THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING TAKEN ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY AIRPORT BUILDING. THE PERSON AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WAS NOT DETERMINED, BUT POLICE OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED A PERSON THAT THEY BELIEVED HAD ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE HELICOPTER. THIS PERSON HAD NO FAA FLIGHT CERTIFICATE & WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5577G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5577G-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N TB-02 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCORPION II
- Registry model: [Mooney Kenneth SCORPION II](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-kenneth-scorpion-ii) (registry code 13025Z4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: TB-02
- Airframe hours: 12
- Engines: JOHNSON RW-133 133 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Zeman, Steven
- Registered owner: Steve Zeman
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890712026479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890712026479A), Jul 12, 1989: Amtrrw SCORPION2, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Stolen aircraft crashed into a building on a night takeoff. Pilot did not hold a pilot certificate.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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