# NTSB SEA88FA169: Cessna 172E, N3841S, Petersburg, AK, September 5, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1988, 16:50 local (Sep 5, 1988, 00:50 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, AK
- Coordinates: 57.050689, -132.61943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0507&lon=-132.6194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40735/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA169

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT WAS BRIEFED FOR MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. WITNESSES ON DEPARTURE NOTED FOG BANK OFFSHORE FROM AIRPORT. WITNESSES NEAR ACCIDENT SITE, 10 MI FROM DEPARTURE POINT, HEARD ACFT AND SOUNDS OF IMPACT. THEY REPORTED FOG ON THE WATER AND GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3841S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3841S-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 17251041, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251041
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Everett D. Earlywine
- Registered owner: Everett D Earlywine
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: WRG, WRANGELL, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 150 total, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles

## 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 19880905036649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880905036649A), Sep 5, 1988: Cessna 172E, Petersburg, AK, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into tree level fog after takeoff. Crashed into 20 feet of water. Appears pilot was trying to get under fog.

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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