Cessna 172 accident near Anaktuvuk, Alaska, June 25, 1995
On June 25, 1995, a Cessna 172, registered N4278Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anaktuvuk, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION, AND THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1995
- Place
- Anaktuvuk, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4278Q · no longer on the register · serial 17260178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS AFTER WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO IMPROVE. HE SAID THAT PART WAY THROUGH THE PASS, THE CLOUD CONDITIONS LOWERED VERY RAPIDLY, AND HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH A RIVER OR ITS TRIBUTARY THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND AND LEAVE THE PASS, BUT SAW RISING TERRAIN DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE LEVELED THE WINGS AND APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO OUT-CLIMB THE TERRAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE AIRPLANE CRASH LANDED ON THE UPHILL TERRAIN. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING DAY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1995; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UMT Umiat AK at 6:45 pm
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.