# NTSB ANC12CA108: Cessna 172K, N84549, Atqasuk, AK, September 15, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2012, 18:00 local (Sep 15, 2012, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Atqasuk, AK
- Coordinates: 68.900558, -156.717224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.9006&lon=-156.7172&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85071/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA108

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while performing a high-speed taxi in windy conditions.

## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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 172K, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072430), [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.

- [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that during a high-speed taxi, the wind pushed the airplane sideways into a shallow riverbed, and it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that during a high speed taxi, the wind pushed the airplane sideways into a shallow riverbed, and it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84549](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84549-2018-02-20), registration cancelled 2018-02-20, S/N 17258518, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258518
- Airframe hours: 2925
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2012, 45 hours before
- Departed: PABR, Barrow, AK
- Destination: PABR, Barrow, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: PABR, 140 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 20120914020109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120914020109A), Sep 14, 2012: Cessna 172K, Barrow, AK, Substantial damage. Upon landing at the off airport landing strip the aircraft encountered a gust of wind that caused the left wing to strike the ground and causing the aircraft…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85071. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380492&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.

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