# Accident 20200206000299A: Cessna 172F, Lake George, AK, February 6, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 2020, 12:30 local time
- Place: Lake George, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4103° N, 148.0867° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4103&lon=-148.0867&mi=10
- Aircraft: N817PS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N817PS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 716 total, 150 in this make and model, 87 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200206000299A

## Narrative

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

ON 02/06/2020 AT 1130 LOCAL THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MERRILL FIELD TO OVERFLY KNIX GLACIER WITH THE PILOT, AND THE PILOT'S WIFE'S UNCLE AND COUSIN.

THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW KNIX GLACIER AND THEN PROCEEDED TO LAKE GEORGE.  THE PILOT SAW AN AREA ON THE ICE THAT HE THOUGHT WAS A SUITABLE LANDING ZONE.  HE DESCENDED DOWN LOW AND FLEW OVER TO GET A BETTER LOOK.  THE PILOT CAME BACK AROUND OF ANOTHER LOW PASS AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TOO LOW.  THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE THE AIRCRAFTS MAIN TIRES CONTACTED THE SNOW WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 FEET DEEP AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ONTO THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER AS IT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP.  THE PILOT AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE NOT INJURED.

THE PILOT ACTIVATED HIS GARMIN IN-REACH GPS DEVICE AND THEY WERE AIRLIFTED FROM THE REMOTE SITE BY A SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTER ABOUT 1.5 HOURS LATER.

## 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 ANC20CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA018), Feb 6, 2020: Cessna 172 (N817PS), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.

## Other reports on N817PS (1)

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

- [Incident 19791104056682I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791104056682I), Nov 4, 1979: Cessna 172F (N817PS), Ellensburg, WA, Minor damage. After landing, yet still on runway,aircraft was struck by N13724 taxiing onto runway without checking traffic.

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.

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