# NTSB ANC05CA147: Cessna 172, N124SM, Anchorage, AK, September 17, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2005, 19:00 local (Sep 17, 2005, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.258335, -150
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2583&lon=-150.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62489
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62489/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA147

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during landing, which resulted in an overrun, a loss of directional control, and a nose over during the landing roll.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - grass
  - terrain condition - wet
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was landing on a grass-covered runway, which was about 1,700 feet long, and about 70 feet wide.  The pilot said his landing approach was high, that he landed long on wet grass, and skidded off the right side of the runway.  The nose landing gear dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over in an area of trees.  It received damage to the propeller, left wing, and the right elevator.

## Factual narrative

On September 16, 2005, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N124SM, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during the landing roll at a private airstrip, about 6 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in light rain.  The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, about 1854, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 19, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the south on his grass-covered runway, which is about 1,700 feet long, and about 70 feet wide.  He said his landing approach was high, that he landed long on wet grass, and skidded off the right side of the runway.  The nose landing gear dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over in an area of trees.  It received damage to the propeller, left wing, and the right elevator.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N124SM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N124SM-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 17262436, built 1973 (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: 17262436
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Woelfel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: runway 18

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 437 total, 250 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050916024359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050916024359A), Sep 16, 2005: Cessna 172M, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Cessna 172 received damage during landing at AK37 (pt. Mckenzie). Pilot landed fast on wet grass airstrip, and slid off the runway.

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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