Aeronca 15AC accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, March 23, 1992
On March 23, 1992 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 15AC, registered N1469H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY CONDUCTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LOW CEILINGS, SNOW, RAIN, ICING CONDITIONS, AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1992 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC · all 15ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1469H · registry record · serial 15AC-539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO CROSS A 3,000 FOOT HIGH PASS, THEY ENCOUNTERED LOWERING VISIBILITY DUE TO RAIN, SNOW, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND ICE ON THE AIRPLANE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT STARTED A 180 DEGREE TURN DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINSIDE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 493 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 367 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,838 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1991; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.