# NTSB ANC05CA103: Cessna 172, N7886G, Kenai, AK, July 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2005, 21:30 local (Jul 21, 2005, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 61.133335, -153.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1333&lon=-153.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was swampy terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot elected to make a precautionary landing in a grass-covered field to wait for better weather. As the airplane's main landing gear wheels touched down, the airplane abruptly nosed over. The pilot noted that after he exited the overturned airplane, he discovered that the landing area had about 8-inches of water mixed with the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2005, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N7886G, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site, about 60 miles northeast of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Unalakleet Airport, Unalakleet, Alaska, about 1830. A VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 21, the pilot reported that while flying through an area of mountain valleys and passes, en route to his destination airport, he encountered significant turbulence. He said that as the flight progressed, he saw a large thunderstorm in the distance, along his anticipated flight path, and he elected to make a precautionary landing in a grass-covered field to wait for better weather conditions. The pilot said that as the airplane's main landing gear wheels touched down, the airplane abruptly nosed over. The pilot noted that after he exited the overturned airplane, he discovered that the landing area had about 8-inches of water mixed with the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7886G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7886G), registered now, S/N 17259586, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172 - Airframe hours: 5231.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Byron D. Brown - Registered owner: Byron B. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005 - Departed: UNK, Unalakleet, AK - Destination: ENA, Kenai, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 370 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 90° at 30 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °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 20050720018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050720018329A), Jul 20, 2005: Cessna 172L, Merrill Pass, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 20, 2005 at 0106 local time, a private pilot operating a CE-172, N7886G made a precautionary landing in the area of Merrill Pass, AK. The landing… ## Other investigations on N7886G (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC08CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA048), May 3, 2008: Cessna 172 (N7886G), Anchorge, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a road sign while taxiing from landing. 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.