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SEA89LA151

1989-08-16 · ELY, Nevada, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ELY

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AFTER LIFT-OFF, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB ABOUT 50 TO 100 FT AGL, THEN IT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE NOSE DIPPED & RAISED, THEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. CONTRABAND & UNCERTIFIED FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND ON BOARD THE PLANE. IT WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN LOADED TO 2927 LBS (377 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT). DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9600 FT. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DATED 5/16/86. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_SEA89LA151.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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