Cessna 172M accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 30, 1990
On September 30, 1990 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N6523H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1990 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6523H · registry record · serial 17265473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION BY THE PILOT FROM A FLYING SCHOOL AT THE LOCAL AIRPORT. IT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF ANCHORAGE AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 10 TO 40 FT AGL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL & CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. A CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL 219 MG/DL (0.219%).
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: 145 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 29, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 7:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 am from ANC, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC90LA166.