Cessna 180 accident near Shishmaref, Alaska, February 14, 1992
On February 14, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2788X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shishmaref, Alaska (New Shishmaref airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE NON-INSTRUMENTED RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND ATTEMPTED VISUAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOG, THE ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shishmaref, Alaska · New Shishmaref · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2788X · no longer on the register · serial 18051588
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE, ON A VISUAL FLIGHT WITH A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT AT THE CONTROLS, ENTERED FOG IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO EXIT THE FOG ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE AND IN A SLIGHT LEFT TURN BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. PERSONNEL WHO ARRIVED AT THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OCCURRENCE REPORTED SEEING THE PLANE'S WINGS AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER GLAZED OVER WITH ICE. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY SCRAPED ICE OFF OF THE PLANE'S PROPELLER AND WINGS PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE FLIGHT. THE 1815 AWOS RECORDED A PARTIAL OBSCURATION, CEILING 200 FT. OVERCAST, AND A VISIBILITY OF 2 MILES.
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: 778 hours in all; 663 in this make and model; 725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: -2°F (-19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from SHH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.