# NTSB ANC08LA094: Cessna 172, N2357U, Anchorage, AK, August 2, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 2008, 16:30 local (Aug 2, 2008, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.213611, -149.844451
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2136&lon=-149.8445&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68603/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA094

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in a runway excursion and collapse of the nose gear.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing on runway 25, and indicated that just as the main landing gear tires touched down, the airplane was struck by a strong wind from the right. The pilot attempted to correct for the wind, and added engine power, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The nose gear collapsed when it encountered soft terrain along the side of the runway, which spun the airplane around about 180 degrees. The wind conditions were reported as 280 degrees (true) at 11 knots. In the "Recommendation" (How could this accident have been prevented) section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot noted he could have utilized "Better use of aileron and rudder for directional control."

## Factual narrative

On August 1, 2008, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N2357U, sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway during the landing flare/touchdown at Merrill Field, Anchorage, 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 airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Homer Airport, Homer, Alaska, about 1430.During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 5, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 25 at Merrill Field. During the landing flare, just as the main landing gear tires touched down, the airplane was struck by a strong wind from the right. The pilot attempted to correct for the wind, and added engine power, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The nose gear collapsed when it encountered soft terrain along the side of the runway, which spun the airplane around about 180 degrees. At 1634, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting, in part: Wind, 280 degrees (true) at 11 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 5,000 feet broken; temperature, 61 degrees F; dew point, 52 degrees F; altimeter, 28.89 inHg. In the "Recommendation" (How could this accident have been prevented) section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot noted he could have utilized "Better use of aileron and rudder for directional control."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2357U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2357U-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 17249957, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17249957
- Airframe hours: 2688
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carl A. Dirkers
- Registered owner: Carl A. Dirkers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2008, 25 hours before
- Departed: PAHO, Homer, AK
- Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,557 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 28.88 inHg
- Observed at: PAMR

## 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 20080801843069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080801843069A), Aug 1, 2008: Cessna 172D, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The airman was attempting to land on runway 25 at Merrill Field. As the aircraft was getting close to landing the aircraft pitched up and rolled into a…

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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