Cessna 172 accident near Big Lake, Alaska, August 16, 1994
On August 16, 1994 at about 7:11 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5198A, was destroyed in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOG, AND THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1994 · about 7:11 pm local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5198A · registry record · serial 28198
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOLD FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HIS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION DUE TO FOG OBSCURING THE GROUND AND THAT THE FLIGHT HAD FIVE MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR A BREAK IN THE OVERCAST FROM WHICH TO DESCEND THROUGH AND LAND ON THE NEAREST RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED AN AIRSTRIP IN SIGHT AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO LAND ON IT. IN HIS LAST KNOWN COMMUNICATION, THE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL UNDER POWER, THAT HE WAS CONSERVING FUEL, AND DESCENDING FAST.
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: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 Anchorage AK at 9:36 am
- Destination: 9K2 Kakhonak AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from Z22, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.