Cessna 152 accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska, February 16, 1985
On February 16, 1985 at about 5:26 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4745P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska (Elmendorf airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- February 16, 1985 · about 5:26 pm local time
- Place
- Elmendorf Afb, Alaska · Elmendorf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4745P · registry record · serial 15284808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT BOUNCED ON THE MAIN GEAR. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND IT TOUCHED BACK DOWN ON A HEADING APRX 30 DEGREES RIGHT OF THE RWY HEADING. THE ACFT THEN CONTACTED A SNOW BANK ALONGSIDE THE RWY.
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: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,915 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Elmendorf Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: EDF Elmendorf AK at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 115 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:44 pm from EDF
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.