- Date
- August 21, 1992, 18:30 local (Aug 22, 1992, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Whittier, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- CGVJMCessna 150-F
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 5785
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in flight planning/decision, and his inadvertent VFR flight into IMC weather conditions. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of total experience with this type operation, and the mountainous terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
As the pilot approached a pass, he found it closed by low clouds. He turned to reverse direction, then started a climb through a hole in the clouds. He stated that the hole suddenly closed and he was in the clouds. He again turned to attempt to return to VFR conditions. Suddenly he saw a mountain to his front and then impacted before he could turn away.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGVJM
- Reported as
- Cessna 150-F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 150-63474
- Airframe hours
- 5,027
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Edward R. Ness
- Registered owner
- Edward R. Ness
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 11, 1991 · 98 hours before
- Departed
- CKU · Cordova, AK
- Destination
- ANC · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 119 total · 98 in this make and model · 76 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AK66, 6 nm away