# NTSB ANC09CA016: Cessna 172S, N453SP, Girdwood, AK, December 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 28, 2008, 14:30 local (18:30 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: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 73164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73164/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA016 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's lack of action to correct a high and fast landing approach which resulted in a long landing, and subsequent collision with a snow berm at the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot/student, seated in the left seat, and the certified flight instructor, seated in the right seat, departed on a visual flight rules flight for mountain flying instruction and an Aero Club airplane checkout. The instructor decided to have the pilot land at an airport that had a 2,088 foot long runway. The first approach to the airport was high and fast, and the landing approach was aborted. On the second approach, the airplane was again high and fast, and touched down about 600 to 800 feet beyond the runway threshold. The runway surface was compacted snow and ice, and the braking action was poor. The airplane collided with a snow berm at the end of the runway, and received substantial damage to the landing gear and fuselage. The flight instructor did not take control of the airplane at any time before or during the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative The private certificated pilot/student, seated in the left seat, and the certified flight instructor, seated in the right seat, departed on a VFR instructional flight for the purpose of mountain flying instruction, and an Aero Club airplane checkout. The instructor decided to have the pilot land at an airport that had a 2,088 foot long runway. The first approach to the airport was high and fast, and the landing approach was aborted. On the second approach, the airplane was again high and fast (75 knots), and touched down about 600 to 800 feet beyond the runway threshold. The runway surface was compacted snow and ice, and the braking action was poor. The airplane collided with a snow berm at the end of the runway, and received structural damage to the landing gear and fuselage. The flight instructor did not take control of the airplane at any time before or during the accident sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N453SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453SP), registered now, S/N 172S8297, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8297 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Air Force - Registered owner: U.S. Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 2008, 46 hours before - Departed: PAED, Elmendorf AFB, AK - Destination: PAED, Elmendorf AFB, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AQY, Girdwood, runway 19, 2,008 × 73 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 775 total, 660 in this make and model, 716 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 12, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 175 in this make and model, 133 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °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 20081228857459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081228857459A), Dec 28, 2008: Cessna CE-172S, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. The flight instructor failed to correct the student's poor approach. As a result, the student (a private pilot) landed with excessive speed well beyond the… 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.