Cessna 172 accident near Tuluksak, Alaska, April 26, 2006
On April 26, 2006 at about 2:35 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N1453V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuluksak, Alaska (Tuluksak Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's excessive loading of the airplane, his inadequate preflight planning, and a slush-covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2006 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Tuluksak, Alaska · Tuluksak Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1453V · no longer on the register · serial 17263590
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated airline transport pilot was departing on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, on-demand air taxi passenger flight from a 2,461 foot-long slush and snow-covered gravel runway. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne after using about two-thirds of the runway, but would not climb. Once the airplane passed over the departure end of the runway, it stalled and collided with a stand of trees and snow-covered terrain. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. A postaccident investigation revealed that the estimated gross weight of the airplane at takeoff was about 2,485 pounds, or approximately 185 pounds in excess of the maximum takeoff gross weight of 2,300 pounds.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,812.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 2006; 24.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TLT Tuluksak AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Runway 20, 2,461 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PANI, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N1453V 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.