Cessna 150M accident near Glennallen, Alaska, March 18, 1995
On March 18, 1995 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N88808, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska (Skelton airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE A SOFT, SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1995 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · Skelton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N88808 · registry record · serial 15076150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS IN THE AREA OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE PILOT TURNED AROUND, HOWEVER THEN NOTICED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS SEEMED TO IMPROVE. HE AGAIN STARTED TOWARD THE DESTINATION. WEATHER CONDITIONS AGAIN DETERIORATED AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND AT A REMOTE AIRSTRIP FOR FUEL. THE RUNWAY WAS SNOW COVERED AND HAD SEVERAL TRACKS THAT APPEARED TO BE AIRCRAFT WHEEL TRACKS. THE PILOT EVALUATED THE RUNWAY CONDITION FROM THE AIR AND IT APPEARED TO BE HARD-PACKED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED ABOUT 9 INCHES OF SOFT SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE RUNWAY IS UNATTENDED AND MAINTAINED BY LOCAL PARTIES ON AN UNOFFICIAL BASIS. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 37 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
What happened, in order
- ON GROUND/WATER ENCOUNTER WITH TERRAIN/WATER during landing - roll
- NOSE OVER during landing - roll
Pilot
- Ratings: none, none, none, none
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,702 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, March 1, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Red Baron Air
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 3:10 pm
- Destination: GKN AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°C, dew point 0°C
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC95LA035.