# NTSB ANC11CA014: Cessna 172R, N447AF, Montana Creek, AK, March 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 5, 2011, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Montana Creek, AK - Coordinates: 62.042499, -150.075836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0425&lon=-150.0758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78513 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78513/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78513 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to recognize that he was landing at the wrong airstrip on a snow-covered and unplowed runway, resulting in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Knowledge: knowledge of geographic area](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying from one airport to another using a highway as a reference. He saw an airport that he thought was his destination airport and made a straight-in approach for landing. Just before touching down, he realized that he was not landing at the correct airport and instead was landing on a snow-covered and unplowed private airstrip. He realized that he did not have time to go around and landed on the snow. The airplane crossed a snow machine track and nosed over. The engine firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was flying from one airport to another using a highway as a reference. He saw an airport that he thought was the destination airport, and made a straight-in approach for landing. Just before touching down, the pilot realized that he was not landing at the correct airport, and was landing on a snow-covered and unplowed private airstrip. He stated that he did not have time to go around, and landed on the snow. The airplane crossed a snow machine track and nosed over. The engine firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N447AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N447AF-2013-06-24), registration cancelled 2013-06-24, S/N 17280447, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280447 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Elmendorf Air Force Base Aero Club - Registered owner: Elmendorf Air Force Base Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PAUO, Willow, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 249 total, 134 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point -4 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 17 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78513. 984 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 984 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345699&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.