Cessna 172N accident near Tuntutuliak, Alaska, June 23, 2000
On June 23, 2000 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4762D, was destroyed in an accident near Tuntutuliak, Alaska (Tuntutuliak airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's disregard of the existing wind conditions, and an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident are a tailwind, and wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2000 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Tuntutuliak, Alaska · Tuntutuliak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4762D · no longer on the register · serial 17272353
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed the 1,800 feet long by 28 feet wide gravel runway with a tailwind from the right of 15 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The airport was equipped with an operable windsock. The passenger did not describe, nor did postaccident inspection reveal, any preaccident anomalies with the airplane, powerplant, or accessories. Witnesses said the airplane lifted off the ground about 200 feet from the departure end, turned left, and dropped sharply to the ground. No vegetation surrounding the wreckage was disturbed, except for the immediate footprint of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,625 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,581 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 2000; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK61 at 9:45 pm
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- Runway 20, 1,800 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4762D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.