Cessna 172 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, August 24, 1995
On August 24, 1995 at about 5:30 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N96911, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1995 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N96911 · registry record · serial 17276132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THEY WERE LOOKING FOR GAME FOR A FUTURE HUNTING TRIP. AS HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE UP SLOPE, HE OBSERVED THE WIND MOVING THE TREE TOPS. HE ESTIMATED THE WIND AT 15 KNOTS. THE WIND WAS BLOWING OVER A BENCH, A FLAT AREA ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN SLOPE, AND THE PILOT STATED IT CREATED A DOWNDRAFT THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. HE STARTED A TURN TO PROCEED DOWNSLOPE, AND DURING THE TURN, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE, SLOWED DOWN, AND STRUCK MORE TREES, BEFORE CRASHING INTO ALDER BUSHES.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,391 hours in all; 1,024 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1995; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SXQ AK at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC95LA149.