Cessna 152 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 13, 1993
On September 13, 1993 at about 7:41 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95277, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fiarbanks International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND THE INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF THE OPERATION BY THE CLUB MANAGEMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1993 · about 7:41 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fiarbanks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95277 · no longer on the register · serial 15285870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED HIS SOLO ENDORSEMENT 126 DAYS EARLIER. HE WAS NOT CURRENT AND DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE ORGANIZATION THAT RENTED THE AIRPLANES. NO ONE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO FLY. HIS LAST RECORDED FLIGHT WAS AUGUST 30, 1993. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS OF THE OPERATION, THE FLIGHT WAS UNAUTHORIZED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT NIGHT AND DURING THE CROSSWIND TURN TO THE DOWNWIND LEG THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE. THE CROSSWIND LEG WAS OVER A DARK, UNLIT AREA.
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: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,344 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 3, 1993; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19L, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from FAI, 2 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.
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.