# NTSB ANC01LA061: Cessna 172, N8054X, Wasilla, AK, May 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2001, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.616943, -149.314727 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6169&lon=-149.3147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52389/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA061 ## Probable cause An undershoot due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path during a VFR final approach to landing. A factor in the accident was a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - ground - landing gear,nose gear assembly - collapsed ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was planning a full-stop landing at a private airstrip. The gravel runway is 2,200 feet long and 40 feet wide. The final approach path to the runway threshold is over a small pond. The pilot said her first landing approach was too steep, and she did a go-around. On the second approach, about 50 to 100 feet lower than the normal approach path, the airplane encountered a downdraft over the pond, and the pilot added engine power. The airplane continued to descend and touched down on the main landing gear, about 300 feet short of the runway threshold. The nose wheel collapsed when it contacted the ground. The pilot said the cockpit immediately filled with smoke, and she exited the airplane via the right door. The airplane fuselage was consumed by fire. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2001, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N8054X, was destroyed by a postimpact fire after landing short of the runway at the Anderson Lake Airstrip, about 3.5 miles north-northeast 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 the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1130. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 31st, the pilot reported that she was planning a full-stop landing on runway 08 at the Anderson Lake airstrip. The private airstrip has a gravel runway that is 2,200 feet long and 40 feet wide. The final approach path to the runway threshold is over a small pond. The pilot said her first landing approach was too steep, and she did a go-around. On the second approach, about 50 to 100 feet lower than the normal approach path, the airplane encountered a downdraft over the pond, and the pilot added engine power. The airplane continued to descend and touched down on the main landing gear, about 300 feet short of the runway threshold. The nose wheel collapsed when it contacted the ground. The pilot said the cockpit immediately filled with smoke, and she exited the airplane via the right door. The airplane fuselage was consumed by fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8054X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8054X-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 17248554, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248554 - Airframe hours: 2054 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sherry L. Pinckley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 27, 2000, 15 hours before - Departed: PABV, CHUGIAK, AK - Destination: 0AK1, WASILLA, AK - Airport: 0AK1, Anderson Lake Strip, runway 08, 2,200 × 40 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 27, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 320 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 6 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg ## 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 20010531040029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010531040029A), May 31, 2001: Cessna 172B, Wasilla, AK, Destroyed. (-23) On 05/31/2001 Cessna 172, N8054X was destroyed after a hard landing at Anderson lake airstrip. The pilot reported that she made the first approach to… 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.