Cessna 172K accident near Rohn Roadhouse, Alaska, May 17, 1993
On May 17, 1993 at about 6:00 am local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N736BY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rohn Roadhouse, Alaska (Tatina River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1993 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Rohn Roadhouse, Alaska · Tatina River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736BY · registry record · serial R1722408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SPORTSMAN STOL KIT. THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO AN UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP USING AN AIRSPEED OF 45 KNOTS INDICATED. HE STATED THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE TO 5 KNOTS AND DURING THE LOW PASSES HE NOTICED ONLY LIGHT 'BUMPS.' WHILE ON SHORT FINAL AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK AND HE APPLIED SOME POWER BUT NOT FULL THROTTLE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 50 FEET SHORT OF THE AIRSTRIP IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR OFF AND NOSED OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 746 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Tatina River AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.