Cessna 150 accident near Black River, Alaska, August 12, 1992
On August 12, 1992 at about 10:28 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6288S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Black River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1992 · about 10:28 pm local time
- Place
- Black River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6288S · no longer on the register · serial 15067088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON HIS FIRST CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HE OVER CORRECTED FOR THE CROSSWINDS AND BECAME DISORIENTED. HE FLEW INTO A VALLEY AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE WHEN IT WOULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 124 FLIGHT HOURS, OF WHICH ONLY 20 WERE IN ALASKA. ALL OTHER HOURS HAD BEEN FLOWN IN FLORIDA. HE HAD MADE NO FLIGHTS, EITHER DUAL OR SOLO, IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SUCH AS THAT WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 124 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 22, 1992; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKN Gulkana AK
- Destination: TKA Talkeetna AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.