# NTSB ANC01TA032: Cessna 172, N737CU, Kipnuk, AK, January 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: January 23, 2001, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Kipnuk, AK - Coordinates: 59.933055, -164.030548 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9331&lon=-164.0305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, ANC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01TA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01TA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the presence of a crosswind, an icy runway and snow covered terrain, the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and an inaccurate wind direction indicator. ## Analysis The private certificated pilot/owner was landing at a remote airport. The purpose of the flight was to work on the FAA's VOR building at the destination airport. The pilot is an employee of the FAA's Airways Facilities Branch. The pilot said that his check of weather conditions included a wind report of 060 degrees at eight knots. Upon arrival over the airport, the pilot said he visually checked the wind sock at the airport. The wind sock frame appeared to be oriented about 150 degrees, but the tail of the sock was blowing at an angle. The wind appeared to be 060 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 33, touching down at the approach end of the runway. The runway surface was icy, and about 300 feet after touchdown, the airplane was blown to the left. The pilot was unable to correct the left drift, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into an area of soft snow. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The remarks section of the airport facility directory/Alaska supplement notes that the airport is unattended, the runway condition is not monitored, the airport has frequent crosswinds, and the windsock at the south end of the airport is damaged, and not functioning properly. ## Factual narrative On January 23, 2001, about 1330 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N737CU, sustained substantial damage during landing at Kipnuk, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by the pilot, and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airways Facilities Branch, Anchorage, Alaska. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska, about 1230. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 24, 2001, the pilot reported that he and the passenger are employees of the FAA, Airways Facilities Branch. The flight to Kipnuk was for the purpose of working on the VOR building at Kipnuk. The pilot said that his check of weather conditions at Kipnuk included a wind report of 060 degrees at eight knots. Upon arrival over the airport, the pilot said he visually checked the wind sock at the airport. The wind sock frame appeared to be oriented about 150 degrees, but the tail of the sock was blowing at an angle. The wind appeared to be 060 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 33, touching down at the approach end of the runway. The runway surface was icy, and about 300 feet after touchdown, the airplane was blown to the left. The pilot was unable to correct the left drift, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into an area of soft snow. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he utilized his personal airplane as transportation to Kipnuk, receiving mileage compensation from the FAA. The FAA's Airport Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement listing for the Kipnuk airport includes airport remarks, which state, in part: "Airport unattended. Caution, runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Caution, frequent crosswinds. ...windsock at south end of airport damaged, not functioning properly." ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - inaccurate (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: N737CU (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269321 - Airframe hours: 988 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: Federal Aviation Administration - Registered owner: Lance Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2000, 80 hours before - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: PAKI, Kipnuk, AK - Airport: PAKI, Kipnuk, runway 33, 2,120 × 35 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 128 total, 126 in this make and model, 82 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.44 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 20010123038609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010123038609A), Jan 23, 2001: Cessna 172N, Akiak, AK, No damage. (-23) On January 23, 2001, about 1330 local time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N737CU, sustained substantial damage during landing at the kipnuk airport. The… 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.