Cessna 172M N9212H

Summary

On 15 May 1998 at about 17:15 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N9212H was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 May 1998 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.6195, -148.9797

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N9212H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Lake → Petersburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98FA048

2 people died.

The pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors were the terrain induced turbulence, clouds, the pilot's overconfidence in his abilities, and mountainous terrain conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument rated private pilot was issued adverse condition warnings and urgent pilot reports for severe turbulence. His route of flight took him up channeled, mountainous terrain requiring a climb to a minimum of 9,000 feet msl. Winds aloft were forecast to be between 28 and 41 knots. Surface winds were forecast to be in a downslope direction at 25 knots gusting to 50 knots from channeled terrain. Cessna 172 performance charts for the 180 horsepower engine indicate a maximum climb rate available of 405 feet per minute at 8,000 feet pressure altitude. Ceilings of 8,500 feet were reported on the west side of the mountains. The pilot radioed that he was going to try to get on top through a hole. The airplane was located on the west side of a peak, in deep snow, at 8,600 feet msl, about 40 hours after the departure. The Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was masked by terrain and wreckage. Both occupants were lightly dressed, and appeared to have survived the impact. The pilot was described by acquaintances as inexperienced and prone to taking chances with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.