# NTSB ANC92LA138: Cessna 150-F, Whittier, AK, August 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1992, 18:30 local (Aug 22, 1992, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Whittier, AK
- Coordinates: 60.849693, -148.030303 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8497&lon=-148.0303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA138

## 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

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition, clouds
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150-F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150-63474
- Airframe hours: 5027
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 48; 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

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.