Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anaktuvuk, Alaska 99721
Saturday, June 24, 1995 16:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANAKTUVUK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99721
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1031
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4278Q
NTSB Number ANC95LA082
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17260178
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 8 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 3200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DON AMATO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 311 MIDWAY CT.
Aircraft Owner City UPLAND
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91784
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UMT
Departure City UMIAT
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --