# NTSB ANC20CA036: Cessna 175, N7023E, Soldotna, AK, March 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 22, 2020, 12:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.475276, -151.032501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4753&lon=-151.0325&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101104/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101104 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's unintentional selection of the wrong landing surface, which was covered with 2 ft of snow and resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284); cases with it: [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, on the day of the accident, about 6 inches of fresh snow covered the runway's surface. He added that, during the approach to land, he lined up with what he thought was the appropriate runway, slowed the airplane, and applied flaps. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel "dug" into the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he had unintentionally landed on the ski strip, which had accumulated about 2 ft of snow, and not the intended runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, the day of the accident about 6 inches of fresh snow covered the surface of the airport. He added that during the approach to land, he lined up with what he thought was the appropriate runway, slowed the airplane, and applied flaps. Upon touchdown in the wheel-equipped airplane, the nose wheel "dug" into the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he had unintentionally landed on the ski-strip which had accumulated about 24 inches of snow, and not the intended runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7023E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 (A) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56523 - Year built: 1960 - Engines: Continental GO-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SXQ, Soldotna, AK - Destination: SXQ, Soldotna, AK - Airport: SXQ, Soldotna, runway 7S, 2,300 × 60 ft, snow - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 22,700 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.48 inHg - Observed at: PASX ## 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 20200322001279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200322001279A), Mar 22, 2020: Cessna 175A, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. On March 22, 2020 at 1220 local time, N7023E, a Cessna 175A, received substantial damage when it flipped over during landing on a snow covered ski runway at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101104. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.