# NTSB ANC84FA141: Cessna 172P, N54173, Fortress Creek, AK, August 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1984, 19:10 local (Aug 18, 1984, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Fortress Creek, AK
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4225/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA141

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED TO LOCATE WILD GAME. ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAIN AT 4250 FT LEVEL. ACFT IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICALATTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF ACFT DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54173 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274903
- Airframe hours: 1625
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William And Judy Woodland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 6, 1984, 67 hours before
- Departed: EDF, ELMENDORF, AK
- Destination: SHEEP MOUNTAIN, AK
- Flight plan: Military VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 151 total, 26 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840817044629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840817044629A), Aug 17, 1984: Cessna 172P, Fortress Creek, AK, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Wreckage indicates a stall spin accident. Was sheep spotting. Aircraft was over gross weight.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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