Cessna 172 N4278Q

Summary

On 25 June 1995 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N4278Q was involved in an accident near Anaktuvuk, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 1995 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anaktuvuk, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

68.1494, -151.7100

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N4278Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Umiat → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA082

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION, AND THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS AFTER WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO IMPROVE. HE SAID THAT PART WAY THROUGH THE PASS, THE CLOUD CONDITIONS LOWERED VERY RAPIDLY, AND HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH A RIVER OR ITS TRIBUTARY THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND AND LEAVE THE PASS, BUT SAW RISING TERRAIN DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE LEVELED THE WINGS AND APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO OUT-CLIMB THE TERRAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE AIRPLANE CRASH LANDED ON THE UPHILL TERRAIN. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING DAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.