# NTSB ANC01LA051: Cessna 150, N8401J, Cantwell, AK, April 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2001, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Cantwell, AK - Coordinates: 63.33139, -149.127227 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.3314&lon=-149.1272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52118/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and subsequent nose over during the landing flare. Factors in the accident were soft, snow-covered terrain on the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was on a cross-country personal flight, and decided to land at the accident airport for a short break. He said he over-flew the runway and it appeared to him as snow-covered, but smooth. The pilot then landed on runway 21. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear immediately sank into about 12 inches of snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the vertical stabilizer, wings, and the aft cabin bulkhead. The Alaska Supplement/Airport Facility Directory states, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing... No winter maintenance." ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2001, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150 airplane, N8401J, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Summit Airport, located about six miles south-southwest of Cantwell, 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 commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0945. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 22, the pilot reported that he was en route to Fairbanks, Alaska, and decided to land at the Summit Airport for a short break. He said he over-flew the runway, and it appeared to him as snow-covered, but smooth. The pilot then landed on runway 21. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear immediately sank into about 12 inches of snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the vertical stabilizer, wings, and the aft cabin bulkhead. The Summit Airport, elevation 2,409 feet msl, has a single gravel runway on a 210/030 degree orientation. Runway 21 is 3,840 feet long, and 80 feet wide. The Alaska Supplement/Airport Facility Directory states, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing... No winter maintenance." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8401J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8401J), registered now, S/N 15066301, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066301 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglas V. Lundeen - Registered owner: Alaska Yukon Missions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: PAFA, FAIRBANKS, AK - Airport: UMM, Summit, runway 21, 3,840 × 80 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 8, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 467 total, 50 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 13 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 20010422040059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010422040059A), Apr 22, 2001: Cessna 150G, Summit, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While enroute from anchorage to fairbanks the pilot chose to land at the Summit Airport for environmental reasons. He thought the runway surface appeared… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.