Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172 N96911

24 August 1995 · Soldotna, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 24 August 1995 at about 05:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N96911 was involved in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 05:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Soldotna, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
60.3209, -150.7905
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N96911
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC95LA149

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 1 0 3

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THEY WERE LOOKING FOR GAME FOR A FUTURE HUNTING TRIP. AS HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE UP SLOPE, HE OBSERVED THE WIND MOVING THE TREE TOPS. HE ESTIMATED THE WIND AT 15 KNOTS. THE WIND WAS BLOWING OVER A BENCH, A FLAT AREA ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN SLOPE, AND THE PILOT STATED IT CREATED A DOWNDRAFT THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. HE STARTED A TURN TO PROCEED DOWNSLOPE, AND DURING THE TURN, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE, SLOWED DOWN, AND STRUCK MORE TREES, BEFORE CRASHING INTO ALDER BUSHES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
13 Feb 1995 Cessna 172K
N79157
Wrightsville, Georgia, United States George Conley Serious injuries -
2 Jul 1995 Cessna 172L
N4319Q
Stanley, Idaho, United States - No injuries -
18 Feb 1995 Cessna 172
N79569
Holland, Michigan, United States - No injuries -
23 Jun 1995 Cessna 172
N5363T
Yerington, Nevada, United States Jesse N. Nish No injuries -
23 Jun 1995 Cessna 172
N6403B
Wauseon, Ohio, United States - No injuries -
5 Aug 1995 Cessna 172D
N2418Y
Hague, Virginia, United States Morgan T Moore No injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
15 Apr 1995 Cessna 180B
N115F
Cantwell, Alaska, United States - Fatal 2
21 May 1995 Cessna 150
N9GZ
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Alaska Air Academy Fatal 1
3 Jun 1995 Piper J3C-65
N32708
Palmer, Alaska, United States - Serious injuries -
8 May 1995 Piper PA-18
N825PK
Chugiak, Alaska, United States Peter J. Kust Fatal 2
21 Jun 1995 De Havilland DHC-2
N1348
Nondalton, Alaska, United States - Fatal 5
25 Jun 1995 Piper PA-31
N62851
Valdez, Alaska, United States - Fatal 4

All 170,864 records in United States