# Accident 20200309005259A: Cessna 172N, Big Lake, AK, March 9, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2020, 20:30 local time
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Airport: Big Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: 153S
- Location: 61.5347° N, 149.8125° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5347&lon=-149.8125&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52168, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52168) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (registry code 41595, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-D2J
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200309005259A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ANC20CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA032), Mar 10, 2020: Cessna 172 (N52168), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N52168 (1)

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

- [Incident 19950613031209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950613031209I), Jun 13, 1995: Cessna 177RG (N52168), Arlington, WA, Minor damage. CFI demo engine failure at night. Brushed trees near awo on go around. Returned to base. Damage found next day.

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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