Cessna 172 accident near Unalakleet, Alaska, December 25, 1994
On December 25, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7137T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Unalakleet, Alaska (Unalakleet airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION. A CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Unalakleet, Alaska · Unalakleet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7137T · registry record · serial 46737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAXIING HIS HIGH-WING, WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF IN A NORTHBOUND DIRECTION. A CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 25 KNOTS WAS BLOWING FROM THE EAST. DURING THE TAXI, THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A SMALL SNOW BANK AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN SLIGHTLY. THE WIND THEN PICKED UP THE AFT END OF THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT ONTO ITS NOSE. THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE RAMP AND INTO A SNOWMOBILE PACKING CRATE.
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: 493 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1994; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: AK54 Teller AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°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.
Other NTSB records under N7137T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.