# NTSB ANC14LA011: Cessna 172M, N20109, Bethel, AK, December 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 2013, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.782222, -161.850006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7822&lon=-161.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88567/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88567 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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-rejected 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 operator reported that, during the takeoff for the scheduled commuter flight, the airplane briefly became airborne but that it immediately settled back onto the runway. The pilot started to abort the takeoff, but he then realized that he did not have sufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane. He reapplied full power, but the airplane impacted the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the engine was run on the airframe through various power settings without anomaly. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2013, about 1730 Alaska Standard Time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N20109, sustained substantial damage after colliding with an airport fence during takeoff from the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Flight Alaska, Inc., doing business as Yute Air Alaska, as a scheduled commuter flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed for the scheduled flight to Napaskiak, Alaska. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the operator stated that the pilot was departing on runway 30. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne briefly, but immediately settled back onto the runway. The pilot started to abort the takeoff, but realized that he did not have sufficient runway to stop the airplane. He reapplied full power, but impacted the airport perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. An examination of the airplane by a FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the engine was run on the airframe through various power settings without anomaly. ## 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 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 21393 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Flight Alaska Inc., doing business as Yute Air Alaska - Registered owner: Bethel Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 25, 2013, 51 hours before - Departed: BET, Bethel, AK - Destination: PAPK, Napaskiak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 30, 1,858 × 75 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; 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 September 25, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,407 total, 338 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PABE ## 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 20131215024619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131215024619A), Dec 15, 2013: Cessna 172M, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. On December 15, 2013, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172, N20109, lost power during takeoff and overshot the runway overrun area and through the outer… ## 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 ANC10LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA013), Jan 19, 2010: Cessna 172M (N20109), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88567. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.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.