- Date
- December 26, 1994, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tok, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N89870Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19941226042159A
- Case key
- 2619
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 attempt to fly into known adverse weather. A factor related to the accident was the icing conditions.
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
The airplane was observed by a ground observer flying in and out of clouds. The ground observer last saw the airplane turning toward the Tok airport with a 'high angle of bank and sinking toward the ground.' The airplane nosed over into a snow bank on the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed 1/8 inch of rime ice covering all the leading edges. The airplane weighed an estimated 156 pounds over the certificated maximum gross weight.
Factual narrative
On December 26, 1994, at 1130 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N89870, registered to William N. Sigler of Little Campbell Creek, Alaska, and operated by the pilot, crashed during landing at Tok, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Tok and was flying toward the Canadian Border. The airplane returned to Tok due to weather. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot and the passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.
According to Ron Sakalaskas, who was driving on the highway toward Tok, he saw the airplane flying low and enter the clouds. Mr. Sakalaskas turned his vehicle around and followed the airplane. He saw the airplane fly in and out of clouds numerous times. He last saw the airplane "turning with a high angle of bank and sinking." When Mr. Sakalaskas arrived at the Tok Airport he saw the airplane upside in a snow bank.
FAA Inspector Cliff Smart visited the accident site the next morning and found all the leading edge surfaces of the airplane covered with approximately 1/8 inch of rime ice. Mr. Smart also examined the cargo that was unloaded by Mr. Sakalaskas. The airplane contained the following:
Full fuel 150 pounds fuel can 66 pounds pilot 140 pounds passenger 180 pounds 2 sleeping bags 10 pounds heavy bag of food 10 pounds 2 backpacks est 25 ea 50 pounds subtotal = 606 pounds
estimated airplane empty weight = 1000 pounds total gross weight = 1606 pounds
Certificated maximum gross weight = 1450 pounds
These calculations show the airplane's gross weight to be 156 pounds over the certificated maximum gross weight.
The Pilot stated he received a weather briefing which indicated the presence of low fog and stratus in the area. He stated that the visibility below the clouds was good.
According to Airman Records, FAA, Oklahoma City, the Pilot showed 500 hours of total flight time on his last application for a medical certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89870
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8915
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hirschler, Andre
- Registered owner
- William N. Sigler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- TKJ · Tok, runway 25, 2,500 × 100 ft, snow
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 30 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.