Cessna 152 accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska, June 16, 1992
On June 16, 1992, a Cessna 152, registered N96082, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska (Elmendorf Air Force Base 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1992
- Place
- Elmendorf Afb, Alaska · Elmendorf Air Force Base
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N96082 · no longer on the register · serial 15286004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER AN ERRATIC VISUAL APPROACH AND LANDING, WITHOUT A CLEARANCE, THE STUDENT PILOT TAXIED CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED. HE WAS GIVEN A TAXI CLEARANCE TO PARKING, AND INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE TOWER BY TELEPHONE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY TURNED AND BEGAN A FAST TAXI ACROSS THE GRASSY MEDIAN AND DOWN A STREET, HIT A STREET SIGN, AND STOPPED WITH THE NOSE GEAR PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AGAINST A CURB. THE PILOT SAT STARING AHEAD IN A DAZED STATE, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. GROUND WITNESSES TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND HELPED THE PILOT OUT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD ONLY EATEN ONE MEAL PER DAY FOR THE PRECEDING 5 DAYS; AND HAD ONLY SLEPT 12 TO 15 HOURS DURING THE PRECEDING 3 DAYS. MEDICAL TESTS AND EVALUATION FOUND NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE PILOT.
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: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,405 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 28, 1992; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Elmendorf Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: TKA Talkeetna AK at 5:56 pm
- Destination: 0 0
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:33 pm from EDF, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N96082 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.