# NTSB ANC10LA013: Cessna 172M, N20109, Bethel, AK, January 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 19, 2010, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.779724, -161.838058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7797&lon=-161.8381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 75288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75288/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75288 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was taking off on a passenger flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, and that the airplane went off the left side of the runway and collided with a snowbank. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage aft of the nosewheel. The pilot reported that after exiting the airplane he discovered that the left main landing gear wheel was locked up and that he was unable to rotate the wheel. The director of operations reported that the left main landing gear wheel and assembly was examined by their mechanics and that no mechanical malfunctions were discovered. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 2010, about 0930 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N20109, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snowbank following a loss of control during takeoff at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Yute Air Taxi Inc., Bethel, as Flight 570, a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The airplane was bound for Napakiak, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 19, The Director of Operations for the operator said the pilot told him he lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, and that the airplane went off the left side of the runway, and collided with a snowbank. The director said the airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In a written statement to the NTSB dated January 20, 2010, the pilot reported that after exiting the airplane he discovered that the left main landing gear wheel was locked up, and he was unable to rotate the wheel. In an email to the NTSB dated February 19, 2010, the director of operations reported that the left main landing gear wheel and assembly had been examined by their mechanics, and no mechanical malfunctions were discovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20109](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20109-2014-12-12), registration cancelled 2014-12-12, S/N 17261017, built 1972 (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: 17261017 - Airframe hours: 17655 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Yute Air Taxi, doing business as Yute Air Taxi - Registered owner: Bethel Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 29, 2009 - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: PANA, Napakiak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PABE, Bethel, runway 01, 6,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,180 total, 650 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 15 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft overcast - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 29.19 inHg - Observed at: BET ## 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 20100119026049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100119026049A), Jan 19, 2010: Cessna 172M, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was attempting a soft-field takeoff using rwy 1L at the Bethel Airport when the aircraft yawed and banked violently to the left just as the nose… ## Other investigations on N20109 (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC14LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA011), Dec 15, 2013: Cessna 172M (N20109), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75288. 680 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 645 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Email Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Correspondence-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.