# NTSB ANC12CA023: Cessna 182A, N6147B, Anchorage, AK, February 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 20, 2012, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.168056, -149.971939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1681&lon=-149.9719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration – Operations - NTSB case key (mKey): 82942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent landing on a frozen lake in dark night conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was cleared to land his wheel-equipped airplane at a lighted gravel airstrip at night, when he mistakenly landed on a frozen, snow-covered lake used by ski-equipped airplanes. The lake was adjacent to the airstrip. During the landing roll, the airplane's wheels contacted deep snow, and it nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Airport rescue personnel reported that, when they arrived on scene, the pilot said that he had landed on the airstrip and that he was unaware that he had inadvertently landed on a frozen lake. He also said that he was familiar with the airstrip, as he had flown in and out of the airstrip for many years. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot was cleared to land his wheel-equipped airplane at a lighted gravel airstrip, at night, when he mistakenly landed on a frozen, snow-covered lake used by ski-equipped airplanes. The lake was adjacent to the airstrip. During the landing roll, the airplane's wheels contacted deep snow, and it nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Airport rescue personnel reported when they arrived on scene, the pilot said that he had landed on the airstrip, and he was unaware that he had inadvertently landed on a frozen lake. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6147B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6147B), registered now, S/N 34147 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34147 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Northcott Thomas J - Registered owner: Northcott Thomas J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2010, 30 hours before - Departed: PAXS, Soldotna, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Airport: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °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 20120220002819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120220002819A), Feb 20, 2012: Cessna 182A, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot departed soldotna airport en route to Lake Hood strip with two passengers. En route, the pilot checked ATIS information and updated the weather for his… ## Other investigations on N6147B (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 SEA08LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA031), Nov 20, 2007: Cessna 182A (N6147B), Tacoma, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout during cruise flight. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82942. 833 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-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.