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Atlas / NTSB / ANC89IA099

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC89IA099

1989-06-20 PALMER, Alaska, United States Airport · PAQ None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

INADEQUATE LUBRICATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER'S TRIM ACTUATOR.

Factual narrative

THE AIRPLANE PITCHED ABRUPTLY NOSE DOWN FOLLOWING AN INFLIGHT FAILURE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER'S TRIM ACTUATOR JACK SCREW. THE CREW WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND MAKE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING BY EXERTING A LARGE AMOUNT OF BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL WHEEL AND ADDING NEARLY FULL ENGINE POWER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACTUATOR REVEALED AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING GREASE AND EXCESSIVE PART WEAR. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_ANC89IA099.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.