# NTSB ANC00LA050: Cessna 182, N3725D, Wasilla, AK, April 29, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 2000, 18:00 local (Apr 29, 2000, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Coordinates: 61.519912, -149.569351 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5199&lon=-149.5694&mi=10
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49120
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49120/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA050

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.  A factor in the accident was a soft area of runway.

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot was landing to the west on his private airstrip.  The grass airstrip, oriented east/west, is 1,300 feet long, and 100 feet wide.  The pilot said the west end of the airstrip was soft, and during the landing roll, the airplane nose wheel dug into the soft ground.  The propeller and the left wingtip then struck the ground.  The airplane received damage to the propeller, about 12 inches of the outboard end of the left wing, and the left wing spar.

## Factual narrative

On April 28, 2000, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 182 airplane, N3725D, sustained substantial damage during landing at a private airstrip, about three miles east of Wasilla, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, at 1740.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 29, 2000, the pilot reported he was landing to the west on his private airstrip.  The grass airstrip, oriented east/west, is 1,300 feet long, and 100 feet wide.  The pilot said the west end of the airstrip was soft, and during the landing roll, the airplane nose wheel dug into the soft ground.  The propeller and the left wingtip then struck the ground.  The airplane received damage to the propeller, about 12 inches of the outboard end of the left wing, and the left wing spar.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3725D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3725D), registered now, S/N 34425 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34425
- Airframe hours: 4418
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Curtis G. Green
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 1999, 20 hours before
- Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: AK65
- Airport: AK65, Green'S Strip, runway 27, 1,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 873 total, 380 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 20000429042009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000429042009A), Apr 29, 2000: Cessna 182A, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Landing on private strip (AK65) to the west, west end of strip was soft. On landing, the nose gear dug in and prop struck ground with prop damage. Left…

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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