Cessna 172B accident near North Pole, Alaska, July 30, 1995
On July 30, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N9192R, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Pole, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHEN THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO REACH THE DESTINATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9192R · no longer on the register · serial 17248239
- 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 WAS ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT AND WAS AWARE THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON FUEL. HE SAID HE WAS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF HIS DESTINATION, AND HE PLANNED TO REFUEL THERE. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING THE SUBSEQUENT OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. ALSO, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, IF HE HAD REFUELED SOONER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,036 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 839 as pilot in command; 47 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95Z at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°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.