# Accident 20031205033739A: Cessna 172H, Chugiak, AK, December 5, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 5, 2003, 15:00 local time
- Place: Chugiak, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.3333° N, 148.9833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3333&lon=-148.9833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2459L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2459L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,300 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC04LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031205033739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON DECEMBER 05, 2003, ABOUT 1500 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 172, N2459L, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THEN SANK INTO EKLUTNA LAKE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A LOG DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE BOLD AIRSTRIP, LOCATED ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHUGIAK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS, AND WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT (MRI) ABOUT ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ON DECEMBER 17, 2003, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PLAN TO LAND ANYWHERE, BUT ELECTED TO LAND AT THE BOLD AIRSTRIP AFTER OVERFLYING THE STRIP AND ASSESSING THE SNOW CONDITIONS. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE TRACKS ON THE STRIP FROM A PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT AND THAT GRAVEL WAS VISIBLE IN THOSE TRACKS. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW ON THE STRIP, AND HE HAD OPERATED IN A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW BEFORE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. AFTER LANDING HE DISCOVERED THE SNOW WAS DEEPER THAN HE ANTICIPATED, WITH A DEPTH OF ABOUT 6 TO 7 INCHES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT BACK AND FORTH ON THE 1000 FOOT LONG BY 30-FOOT WIDE AIRSTRIP TO PACK THE SNOW TO PROVIDE A BETTER TAKEOFF SURFACE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART TO THE NORTH. THE NORTH END OF BOLD AIRSTRIP EXTENDS TO THE SHORELINE OF EKLUTNA LAKE. ALSO AT THE NORTH END OF THE STRIP, ON THE SHORELINE OF EKLUTNA LAKE IS A LARGE TREE STUMP. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKEOFF BUT ABORTED. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED FLYING BUT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE STRIP AND BOUNCED. HE SAID THAT AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE STRIP THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREE STUMP, DESCENDED ONTO THE LAKE SURFACE AND SANK. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO IT SINKING, AND SWAM TO SHORE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC04LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA012), Dec 5, 2003: Cessna 172 (N2459L), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area, and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a stump, and subsequent loss of control. Factors…

## Other reports on N2459L (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19890901033659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890901033659A), Sep 1, 1989: Cessna 172H (N2459L), Sparrevohn, AK, Substantial damage. Wind blew plastic bucket into path of aircraft on takeoff from a gravel bar. Bucket damaged horizontal stabilizer.
- [Accident 19751108034769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751108034769A), Nov 8, 1975: Cessna 172H (N2459L), Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. Plt didnt retract flaps & didnt use UNICOM.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
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.