- Date
- August 21, 2000, 18:30 local (Aug 22, 2000, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alexander Creek, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N12188Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20000821042329A
- Case key
- 50169
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were gusty winds, and a downdraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated private pilot reported that he was on a southerly, short final approach to a remote airstrip. When the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground, the wind increased and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane onto the approach end of the airstrip, about 15 yards short of the airstrip surface. He said that the nose wheel struck the ground first, and bounced the airplane into the air. He added that when the airplane settled onto the airstrip, a nose wheel fork broke, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the southwest, at 4 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and added that there were storms in the vicinity of the accident airstrip.
Factual narrative
On August 21, 2000, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N12188, sustained substantial damage while on approach to Roy's airstrip, Alexander Creek, Alaska. The private pilot/airplane owner and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed the Lake Hood airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1800, and the destination was Alexander Creek. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator on August 23, the pilot related he and a friend were flying to his cabin located near the Alexander Creek airstrip. He said he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land to the south. While on final approach, about 50 feet above the ground, he said the wind increased and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane onto the approach end of the airstrip, about 15 yards short of the airstrip surface. He said that the nose wheel struck the ground first, and bounced the airplane back into the air. He added that when the airplane settled back onto the airstrip, a nose wheel fork broke, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer.
The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the southwest, at 4 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and added that there were storms in the vicinity of the accident airstrip.
The pilot indicated that there was no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12188
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17261871
- Airframe hours
- 3,534
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kris T. Draper
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 16, 2000 · 48 hours before
- Departed
- Z41 · Lake Hood A/S, AK
- Airport
- Roy'S Airstrip, runway 21, 1,100 × 50 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 216 total · 148 in this make and model · 140 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 4 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.