Piper PA-14 accident near Rainey Pass, Alaska, March 20, 1993
On March 20, 1993 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-14, registered N5153H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rainey Pass, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN 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 20, 1993 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rainey Pass, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N5153H · no longer on the register · serial 14-163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INDICATED THAT RAINEY PASS WAS CLOSED DUE TO IFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DEPARTED THE ROHN AIRSTRIP AND FLEW INTO A BOX CANYON 3.5 MILES WEST OF THE PASS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN WHILE IN A CLIMBING TURN. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE OVERCAST SKIES WITH SNOW SHOWERS.
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: 2,750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,031 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rohn AK
- Destination: BGQ Big Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°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.