20200309005259A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Big Lake, AK · March 9, 2020

Date: March 9, 2020 · 20:30 local
Place: Big Lake, AK
Airport: Big Lake
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator: 153S
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N52168
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC20CA032
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,800 total

N52168Registered now · Cessna 172NS/N 17273457 · Built 1979 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming O-320-D2JReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft landed at bgq. Pilot estimates 2 feet of fresh snow on runway at time of landing. Made two takeoff attempts on runway, aborted due to being unable to achieve necessary rotation speed. Made third attempt on perpendicular ramp/taxiway. Surface was partially plowed, partially snow covered. Ramp/taxiway area was not straight and had berms near the runway entrance. Aircraft failed to achieve necessary rotation speed and impacted a berm with the left tire and fuselage, followed by the right wingtip and fuselage.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT LANDED AT BGQ. PILOT ESTIMATES 2 FEET OF FRESH SNOW ON RUNWAY AT TIME OF LANDING. MADE TWO TAKEOFF ATTEMPTS ON RUNWAY, ABORTED DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO ACHIEVE NECESSARY ROTATION SPEED. MADE THIRD ATTEMPT ON PERPENDICULAR RAMP/TAXIWAY. SURFACE WAS PARTIALLY PLOWED, PARTIALLY SNOW COVERED. RAMP/TAXIWAY AREA WAS NOT STRAIGHT AND HAD BERMS NEAR THE RUNWAY ENTRANCE. AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ACHIEVE NECESSARY ROTATION SPEED AND IMPACTED A BERM WITH THE LEFT TIRE AND FUSELAGE, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WINGTIP AND FUSELAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC20CA032Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBig Lake, AKThe pilot's improper decision to initiate the takeoff roll from a snow-covered taxiway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a snow berm.Mar 10, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N52168 · 1

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

Incident 19950613031209IPractice Training Manuevers · Arlington, WACFI demo engine failure at night. Brushed trees near awo on go around. Returned to base. Damage found next day.Jun 13, 1995 · Reported as Cessna 177RG · Minor damage