# NTSB ANC04LA020: Cessna 172, N1361U, Girdwood, AK, January 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 2004, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Girdwood, AK - Coordinates: 60.96611, -149.125839 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9661&lon=-149.1258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58685/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in an overrun and collision with a snowbank. A factor in the accident was an inoperative airspeed indicator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - inoperative (contributing factor) - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank ## Analysis The private pilot was attempting to takeoff in his personal airplane from a snow and ice-covered, 2,100 foot long gravel runway. He reported that during the takeoff roll, he noted that the airspeed indicator was not functioning, and he elected to abort the takeoff. He was unable to stop the airplane prior to running off the end of the runway and colliding with a snowbank. The pilot stated that the pitot heat was turned on and functioning during the preflight inspection, taxi and run-up, and that the static port was clear. He indicated that the failure of the airspeed indicator may have been due to ice in the pitot-static system. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 2004, about 1030 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N1361U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snowbank during an aborted takeoff at the Girdwood Airport, Girdwood, Alaska. The private pilot/airplane owner and the sole passenger were not injured. The personal, cross country flight operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91, in visual meteorological conditions, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The intended destination was Homer, Alaska. During telephone conversations with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 25 and 26, the pilot related he was attempting to takeoff on runway 19. During the takeoff roll, he noticed that the airspeed indicator was not working, and he elected to abort the takeoff. He said he was unable to stop the airplane on the ice and snow-covered gravel runway before it collided with a snowbank at the end of the runway. The main landing gear collapsed upon impact with the snowbank, and the airplane received structural damage to the firewall bulkhead, fuselage, and the outboard 2 feet of the left wing. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot, he indicated that during the takeoff roll the airspeed indicator read zero. He felt he still had adequate runway remaining to stop before reaching the end of the runway, and he elected to abort the takeoff. After applying the brakes, he realized he had insufficient runway left to stop on the runway, or reinitiate the takeoff, and the airplane subsequently collided with the snowbank at the end of the runway. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, the pitot heat was working properly, and the static port was clear. He said he kept the pitot heat on during taxi and run-up. He noted that he had not had any previous problems with the airspeed indicator, and that the airspeed indicator's failure may have been due to ice in the pitot-static system. He reported the braking action was good during the taxi and run-up. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1361U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1361U-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N 17267032, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267032 - Airframe hours: 1716 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James S. Hilliard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2003, 62 hours before - Departed: Girdwood, AK - Destination: HOM, Homer, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AQY, Girdwood, runway 19, 2,100 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 282 total, 282 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °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 20040125000789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040125000789A), Jan 25, 2004: Cessna 172M, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) After a normal preflight and run up the pilot started his take off roll. As the aircraft became light on the wheels the pilot noticed that the airspeed… 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.