Piper PA-17 accident near Dutch Harbor, Alaska, January 6, 1995
On January 6, 1995 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-17, registered N4492H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dutch Harbor, Alaska (Dutch Harbor 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 PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT BRAKE DUE TO A LEAKY BRAKE LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1995 · about 10:15 pm local time · cases in 1995
- Place
- Dutch Harbor, Alaska · Dutch Harbor · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-17 · all PA-17s on the register
- Registration
- N4492H · registry record · serial 15-280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE AND CORRECTED THE TURN. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO TURN LEFT AND THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT BRAKE AND RUDDER. THE RIGHT BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. A PRESSURE CHECK AND EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEM SHOWED A LEAK FROM AN ORIGINAL PIPER MANUFACTURED BRAKE LINE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER.
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: 187 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DUT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N4492H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4492H on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-17 Vagabond 97 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C85-8 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Unalaska Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4492H 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC95LA026.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.