Piper PA-28-161 accident near Kenai, Alaska, March 29, 1992
On March 29, 1992 at about 9:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N82757, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TERRAIN CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW COVERED HILLY TERRAIN, AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1992 · about 9:53 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N82757 · registry record · serial 28-8116054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING OVER THE TERRAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN WAS FLAT. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ASKED THE PILOT HOW FAR IT WAS TO HOMER, AK. AS THE PILOT WAS DIALING IN THE FREQUENCY ON THE LORAN, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER CALLED OUT THE PILOT'S NAME. THE PILOT PULLED BACK HARD ON THE YOKE AND A 'JOLT' WAS FELT. THE PILOT INCREASED ALTITUDE TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ASKED FOR A LOW FLY BY TO HAVE TOWER PERSONNEL LOOK AT THE LANDING GEAR. THE TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED. THE PILOT INFORMED THE TOWER THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT RETRACTABLE AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN BELLY LANDED.
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: 210 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,935 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1991; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SXQ Soldotna AK at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 1, 7,575 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.