# NTSB ANC06LA104: Cessna 172N, N738LJ, Anchorage, AK, July 31, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2006, 18:00 local (Jul 31, 2006, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.25, -149.966659 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2500&lon=-149.9667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 64235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64235/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA104 ## Probable cause The possible loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb for an unknown reason, which resulted in a forced landing in rough terrain and a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The private certificated pilot departed from a private grass airstrip on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He reported that the airplane lifted off at 55 nautical miles per hour, but would not climb. He said the airplane's engine felt like it was not producing normal takeoff power, and the airplane descended, struck the ground, and nosed over. The right wing and vertical stabilizer were damaged during the accident. The airplane has not been examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge due to its remote location, and the pilot was unable to provide additional information regarding what may have precipitated the perceived loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2006, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N738LJ, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following an emergency descent and landing when it failed to climb after takeoff, about 4 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 31, the pilot told the IIC he took off from a private, grass-covered airstrip that requires a left turn after becoming airborne to clear trees adjacent to the runway. He reported that the airplane lifted off at 55 nautical miles per hour, and he lowered the nose to accelerate, but the airplane would not climb. He said the airplane's engine felt like it was not producing normal takeoff power, and the airplane descended, struck the ground, and nosed over. The pilot said the right wing and vertical stabilizer were damaged during the accident. The airplane has not been examined by the IIC due to the remote location, and the pilot was unable to provide additional information regarding what may have produced the perceived loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738LJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738LJ-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 17270059, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270059 - Airframe hours: 3212 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James W. Woelfel - Registered owner: James Woelfel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: Anchorage, AK - Destination: MRI, Merrill Field, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 453 total, 16 in this make and model, 337 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °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 20060731017939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060731017939A), Jul 31, 2006: Cessna 172N, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Unable to contact the pilot [privacy data omitted] at this time will amend this form when he contacts me sometime after 25 August, 2006. (-23 amendment)… 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.