Cessna 172 accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, June 27, 1995
On June 27, 1995 at about 6:50 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4804E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska (Black Rapids airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN DRAGGING THE RIGHT WING AND SHEARING OFF THE NOSE GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1995 · about 6:50 am local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · Black Rapids · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4804E · registry record · serial 17271665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS IN GROUND EFFECT WHEN A GUST OF WIND HIT THE AIRPLANE AND IT STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. HE CORRECTED BUT STATED HE OVER REACTED AND LOST CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED THE WIND WAS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. HE WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 14. THE AIRPLANE DRAGGED ITS RIGHT WING AND NOSED DOWN.
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: 590 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1994; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKJ Tok AK at 12:45 pm
- Destination: 5BK Black Rapids AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 2,250 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.