ANC02LA047

The commercial certificated pilot was landing the airplane on a paved runway that was 6,398 feet long by 150 feet wide. The pilot said that during the landing roll, as he applied the airplane's brakes, the airplane suddenly veered to the left, and the right wingtip struck the runway surface. The airplane departed off the left edge of the runway. The airplane received damage to the right wingtip that entailed replacement of the wingtip, nose rib, and the leading edge of the wing between wing stations 190 and 208. No mechanical malfunction of the airplane was found.

On June 11, 2002, about 1235 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N7564G, sustained substantial damage when the right wing struck the paved runway during landing at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Hageland Aviation Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Tuluksak Airport, Tuluksak, Alaska, about 1220.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 11, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 18 at Bethel (runway 18 is paved, 6,398 feet long by 150 feet wide). The pilot said that during the landing roll, as he applied the airplane's brakes, the airplane suddenly veered to the left, and the right wingtip struck the runway surface. The airplane departed off the left edge of the runway. The pilot said the weather conditions at Bethel were clear, and the winds were light and variable. The airplane received damage to the right wingtip, the outboard wing nose rib, and the leading edge of the wing.

On June 20, the director of maintenance for the operator reported that the repair of the wing entailed replacement of the wingtip, nose rib, and the leading edge of the wing between wing stations 190 and 208. No mechanical malfunction was reported by the director of maintenance, or the pilot.