# NTSB ANC22LA028: Cessna 172H, N8020L, Chugiak, AK, April 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 10, 2022, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.419254, -149.50339 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4193&lon=-149.5034&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072424), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon touchdown on the asphalt runway, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. Examination of the nose landing gear system revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the landing surface revealed tire witness marks consistent with the airplane touching down in a left-wing-low attitude and evidence that the right main tire did not contact the ground until after the airplane had departed the runway. Based on the tire witness marks and the lack of preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2022, about 1320 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172H airplane, N8020L, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Birchwood, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was landing his tricycle-gear-equipped airplane. Upon touchdown on the asphalt runway, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. He attempted to correct to no avail. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. Examination of the nose landing gear system revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the landing surface revealed tire witness marks consistent with the airplane touching down on the left main tire in a left-wing-low attitude. The right main tire did not contact the ground until after the airplane had departed the runway surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8020L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8020L-2024-01-20), registration cancelled 2024-01-20, S/N 17256220, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256220 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 6879 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Denali Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2021, 52 hours before - Departed: PAUO, Willow, AK - Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PABV, Birchwood, runway 20R, 4,012 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.67 inHg - Observed at: PABV - METAR: PABV 102156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M11 A3067 RMK AO2 SLP392 T00171106 FZRANO ## 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 20220410004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220410004609A), Apr 10, 2022: Cessna 172H, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Departed merrill field for landing practice at willow airport, landed at willow for about 30 minutes, took off again and made two more landings, then departed… ## Other investigations on N8020L (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 ANC69F0019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69F0019), Aug 6, 1968: Cessna 172H (N8020L), Ft Wainwrght, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104935. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14149609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA028%20Birchwood%20N8020L%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14149619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA028-Rel.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.