- Date
- January 3, 2001, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- Atmautluak, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N19771Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report February 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010103039699A
- Case key
- 51381
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 failure to maintain a proper glidepath during final approach. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain.
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 commercial pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 33, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend below his intended glide path. In an attempt to arrest the descent he applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane inadvertently touched down on the snow-covered approach end of the runway, about 15 yards short of the runway surface. As he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane become airborne, drifted to the left of the runway, and settled into an area of soft snow. During the second touchdown, the nose wheel collapsed at the firewall bulkhead. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall.
Factual narrative
On January 3, 2001, about 1740 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N19771, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Atmautluak Airport, Atmautluak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Village Aviation, Inc., Bethel, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the two passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, about 1730.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on January 4, the pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 33, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend below his intended glide path. He said that in an attempt to arrest the descent he applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane inadvertently touched down on the snow-covered approach end of the runway, about 15 yards short of the runway surface. He said that as he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane become airborne, drifted to the left of the runway, and settled into an area of soft snow. During the second touchdown, the nose wheel collapsed at the firewall bulkhead. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from the northeast at 5 knots.
The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N19771
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17260739
- Airframe hours
- 4,115
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Village Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 27, 2000 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- BET · Bethel, AK
- Destination
- 4A2 · Atmautluak, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 4A2 · Atmautluak, runway 33, 2,200 × 30 ft, snow
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
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- December 6, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,256 total · 121 in this make and model · 2,232 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -2 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N19771 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.