Cessna 172 accident near Moose Pass, Alaska, November 11, 1991
On November 11, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6742A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moose Pass, Alaska (Moose Pass airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER SETTLING BACK ON THE RUNWAY, DUE TO HIS VISIBILITY BEING RESTRICTED BY FROST ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moose Pass, Alaska · Moose Pass · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6742A · registry record · serial 28842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE GOT THE AIRPLANE OFF PREMATURELY, THEN IT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN LEFT THE RUNWAY AND RAN INTO THE TREES. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT SEE THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF FROST ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
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; 41 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,965 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1991; 580 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Moose Pass AK at 6:15 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 930 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.