Cessna 152 II accident near Skwentna, Alaska, September 17, 1984
On September 17, 1984 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 152 II, registered N94505, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 II · all 152 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N94505 · registry record · serial 15285696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FBO HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH SPARK PLUGS AND MAGNETOS IN THIS ACFT. THE PLT HAD FLOWN THIS ACFT BEFORE WITH RECURRENT ROUGH RUNNING AND DIMINISHED POWER SYMPTOMS. ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH ON THIS FLT AND PLT LANDED ON A SAND BAR (MARKED FOR ACFT USE) TO CHECK IGNITION LEADS AND FUEL FOR CONTAMINATION. ON TAKEOFF, TOTAL POWER LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED AS THE ACFT REACHED ABOUT 2O FT AGL. PLT DITCHED THE ACFT IN THE RIVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAGNETO BEARINGS WERE SEIZED. SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF BEARINGS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,401 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 62 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: Kahiltna River AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
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.