- Date
- September 1, 1989, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sparrevohn, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2459LCessna 172H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 18, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19890901033659A
- Case key
- 5255
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The bucket which was blown into the flight path by a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff from a gravel bar, the airplane struck a plastic bucket that was blown into its path by a crosswind. The bucket struck the left horizontal stabilizer as the airplane was about to lift-off. The pilot continued the flight with no difficulty, but after landing, an exam of the stabilizer revealed substantial damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2459L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255659
- Airframe hours
- 4,196
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Jayhawk Air
- Registered owner
- Wade C. Strahan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 31, 1989 · 87 hours before
- Destination
- MRI · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,900 total · 840 in this make and model · 1,820 as pilot in command · 340 in the last 90 days · 97 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2459L · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.