Cessna 172 accident near Atigan Pass, Alaska, August 28, 1993
On August 28, 1993 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N80303, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atigan Pass, 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 INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1993 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Atigan Pass, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N80303 · registry record · serial 172-66509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID AS SHE APPROACHED THE 5,000 FOOT PASS SHE STARTED A CLIMB TO GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. SHE SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING FAST ENOUGH TO GET TO THE NECESSARY CROSSING ALTITUDE SO SHE STARTED A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED AT THE 3,000 FOOT LEVEL OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE PILOT SAID SHE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH THIS PASS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 853 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 853 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,632 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1993; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-32D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCC Deadhorse AK at 2:51 pm
- Destination: BTT Bettles AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.