# NTSB ANC09CA010: Cessna 172M, N9099H, Girdwood, AK, November 8, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 8, 2008, 16:49 local (20:49 UTC) - Place: Girdwood, AK - Coordinates: 60.96611, -149.125839 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9661&lon=-149.1258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 69421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69421/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA010 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to attempt to take off on a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the snow-covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was on an instructional flight with a student pilot and decided to land at a different airport prior to returning to the departure airport. He said that while above the airport where he intended to land he received a report from another pilot that there were 4-5 inches of snow on the runway. He made a successful soft-field landing and taxied back to the threshold to demonstrate a soft-field takeoff. The pilot said the airplane accelerated slowly on takeoff, and did not reach rotation speed before running through the runway end markers. He said the airplane continued down an embankment and came to rest in a creek. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident and that the airplane sustained damage to the wings and fuselage. In a written statement, the pilot wrote that the accident could have been avoided by not landing on a runway with more than an inch of snow. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor was on an instructional flight with a student pilot under Title 14, CFR Part 91, and decided to land at a different airport prior to returning to the departure airport. He said while above the airport where he intended to land, he received a report from another pilot that there was 4-5 inches of snow on the runway. He made a successful soft-field landing, and said he taxied back to the threshold, and prepared to demonstrate a soft-field takeoff. The pilot said the airplane accelerated slowly, and did not reach rotation speed before running through the runway end markers. He said the airplane continued down an embankment and came to rest in a creek. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained damage to the wings and fuselage. In a written statement dated November 18, the pilot wrote that the accident could have been avoided by not landing on a runway with more than an inch of snow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9099H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9099H-2009-04-29), registration cancelled 2009-04-29, S/N 17265943, built 1975 (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: 17265943 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Tech Flight Service Inc, doing business as Aero Tech Flight Service - Registered owner: Aero Tech Flight Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AQY, Girdwood, AK - Destination: MRI, Merrill Field, AK - Airport: AQY, Girdwood, runway 19, 2,088 × 73 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 413 total, 157 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command, 154 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20081108852009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081108852009A), Nov 8, 2008: Cessna 172M, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While attempting a touch and go @ Girdwood [privacy data omitted] decided to make it a full stop. After landing he back taxied for takeoff. 10 degrees of… 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.