# NTSB ANC05CA047: Cessna 172B, N7871X, South Naknek, AK, March 7, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 7, 2005, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: South Naknek, AK
- Coordinates: 58.727222, -156.940826
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7272&lon=-156.9408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61132/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA047

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during taxi after landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.  A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The pilot landed in a strong crosswind without incident, but as he turned the airplane on the runway to back-taxi to parking, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane nosed over, receiving structural damage to the wings and tail.

## Factual narrative

On March 7, 2005, about 1400 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172B airplane, N7871X, sustained substantial damage during taxi from landing when a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane nosed over at the South Naknek Airport, South Naknek, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The solo private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska, about 1355.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 8, the pilot said he landed in a strong crosswind without incident, but as he was turning the airplane around on the runway to back-taxi to parking, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane nosed over.  He said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that the airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and tail.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7871X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7871X-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 17248371, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172B
- 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: 17248371
- Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chester Wilson
- Registered owner: Pete Hill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2004
- Departed: 5NK, Naknek
- Destination: 3AK, Naknek, AK
- Airport: 3AK, South Naknek

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,000 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °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 20050307006519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050307006519A), Mar 7, 2005: Cessna 172B, Naknek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During taxi after landing at south Naknek Airport, N7871X received substantial damage as a result of pilot [privacy data omitted] not maintaining…

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.

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