# NTSB ANC10CA060: Cessna 172N, N6594D, Palmer, AK, July 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2010, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.366664, -148.300003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3667&lon=-148.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to fly towards rising terrain that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had flown over the Knik Glacier before, but he had been solo at the time and this was his first time with passengers. He approached the glacier at 1,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and initiated a climb. He noticed that the airplane's performance was degraded compared to his previous crossings, and he attributed it to the extra weight of his two passengers; however, he believed he would still make it over the glacier. At the 8,000 feet msl he noticed that he was much closer to the glacier than he expected and decided to turn back. He started a right turn, but the airplane was too low and slow and began to stall. First the right wing tip hit the snow, then the left wing tip hit before the the airplane nosed into the snow and over. The pilot and passengers egressed from the inverted airplane and were rescued about an hour later. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2010, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6594D, collided with terrain 34 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska, while attempting to fly over the Knik Glacier. The airplane was operated by the Elmendorf Air Club under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, and rented to the private pilot. The pilot and his two passengers were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, at 1410. The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that he had flown up and over the Knik Glacier before, but he had been solo at the time, and this was his first time with pasengers. He approached the glacier at 1,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and maneuvered the airplane in to a climb. He noticed that the airplane's performance was degraded compared to his previous crossings, and he attributed it to the extra weight of his two passengers, however, he believed he would still make it over the glacier. At the 8,000 foot msl level he noticed that he was much closer to the glacier than he expected and decided to turn back. He started a right hand turn, but the airplane was too low and slow; the airplane began to stall. The right wing tip hit the snow, then the left wing tip, then the airplane nosed in and over. They egressed from the inverted airplane, and were rescued about one hour later. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6594D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6594D-2020-06-12), registration cancelled 2020-06-12, S/N 17272883, built 1979 (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: 17272883 - Airframe hours: 7019 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2010 - Departed: PEDF, Elmendorf AFB, AK - Destination: PEDF, Elemdorf AFB, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 130 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Observed at: PAAQ, 34 nm away ## 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 20100712041109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100712041109A), Jul 12, 2010: Cessna 172N, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Airman operated aircraft on part 91 sight-seeing flight in mountainous terrain with three souls on board. Pilot reports that due to limited contrast and flat… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76600. 543 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.