Summary
On June 26, 1989, a Douglas DC-3C (N8042X) was involved in an incident near Petersburg, AK. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRPORT USING THE RIGHT SEAT CONTROLS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE FAILURE & SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE RIGHT AILERON FABRIC, AND THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TO THE CONTROL WHEEL WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSTRESSING THE AILERON CONTROL CHAIN.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA89FA122. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8042X.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRPORT USING THE RIGHT SEAT CONTROLS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE FAILURE & SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE RIGHT AILERON FABRIC, AND THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TO THE CONTROL WHEEL WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSTRESSING THE AILERON CONTROL CHAIN.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA89FA122