# NTSB ANC08LA007: Cessna 172M, N92737, Rangeley, ME, October 18, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2007, 15:21 local (18:21 UTC)
- Place: Rangeley, ME
- Coordinates: 44.9397222222222, -70.6905555555556
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9397&lon=-70.6906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Portland, ME
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA007

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.

## Sequence of events

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

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,glassy

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was landing the float-equipped airplane on a lake, when he said his attention was diverted by two military helicopters operating in close proximity to his intended landing area. He said during his moment of inattention, the airplane rolled left, struck the surface of the water with the left float, and nosed over. During the accident, both wings were damaged, and the right aileron was torn away. The pilot reported that prior to the accident there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB.

## Factual narrative

On October 18, 2007, about 1521 eastern daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 172M airplane, N92737, sustained substantial damage during a water landing on Rangeley Lake, Rangeley, Maine. 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 commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger 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 October 24, the pilot said he was on short final, making a glassy water landing, when his attention was diverted by two military helicopters operating in close proximity to his intended landing area. He said during his moment of inattention, the airplane rolled left, struck the surface of the water with the left float, and nosed over. He said that during the accident both wings were damaged, and the right aileron was torn away. He noted that prior to the accident there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.

The airplane was not examined by the NTSB. The pilot did not submit a NTSB form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92737](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92737-2013-07-25), registration cancelled 2013-07-25, S/N 17261612, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- 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: 17261612
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry Koob
- Registered owner: Oquossoc Marine
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Rangeley, ME

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °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 20071018830719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071018830719A), Oct 18, 2007: Cessna 172M, Rangeley, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 15:25 on 10/18/2007, this inspector was notified by the franklin county sheriff's department that a seaplane had crashed on Rangeley…

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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