Cessna 180B accident near Iliamna, Alaska, July 27, 1996
On July 27, 1996 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N9141T, was destroyed in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather condition (low ceiling and rain) and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1996 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9141T · no longer on the register · serial 50641
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot, a non-instrument rated private pilot, departed on a cross-country flight to a remote area in a float equipped airplane. He was accompanied by a commercial/instrument rated pilot/passenger. The flight was reported overdue and was located 3 days later by search personnel. The airplane collided with mountainous terrain at an elevation of 2,200 feet along the intended flight path to the destination. The accident site was located in an area of hills that had a maximum elevation of 2,452 feet and surrounded by low, flat terrain. About 37 miles east at Iliamna, AK, the 1514 special weather observation was in part: 2,400 feet broken, 4,000 feet overcast, visibility 4 miles in light rain and mist, temperature 55 deg, dew point 52 degrees, wind from 100 deg at 13 knots.
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: 270 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 207 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1996; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Palmer AK at 4:40 pm
- Destination: Lake Aleknagik AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:14 pm from ILI, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9141T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.