Cessna 152 II accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 17, 1984
On September 17, 1984 at about 10:29 pm local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N94491, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1984 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N94491 · no longer on the register · serial 15285690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LNDG PRACTICE. ON THE SECOND LNDG TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING DIPPED. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT AILERON AND THE ACFT CONTINUED TOWARD TAXI LIGHTS. PLT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER TO AVOID TAXI LIGHTS AND ACFT HEADED TOWARD ANOTHER (PARKED) ACFT. PLT APPLIED MORE LEFT RUDDER TO AVOID PARKED ACFT AND WHEN HE SAW HE WOULD NOT PASS CLEAR, APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKE APPLICATION FAILED TO STOP ACFT BEFORE COLLISION OCCURRED.
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: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,281 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1984; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Aviation School
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 4:25 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:33 pm from MRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.