# NTSB ANC24LA019: Michael G Darby Dard 1, N696AK, Anchorage, AK, March 18, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 17, 2024, 16:00 local (Mar 18, 2024, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.215573, -149.83955 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2156&lon=-149.8396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control while landing in soft snow, resulting in a 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: [Michael G Darby DARD 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05640ZB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Michael G Darby DARD 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05640ZB), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Michael G Darby DARD 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=05640ZB), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Michael G Darby DARD 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05640ZB), [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. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Michael G Darby DARD 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05640ZB), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during approach to the snow-covered runway in flat light conditions, the runway end lights were off making it difficult to see the runway. He lined up on what he perceived to be the runway centerline and noted ski tracks to the right of his position. After a normal touchdown, he increased power for a touch-and-go; however, he noticed the skis bogged down into the soft snow. There was a sudden deceleration, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder. After landing he realized he had misidentified the runway and landed in softer snow, in an area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N696AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N696AK), registered now, S/N 1533, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MICHAEL G DARBY DARD 1 - Registry model: [Michael G Darby DARD 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-g-darby-dard-1) (registry code 05640ZB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1H6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1h6) (registry code 42399, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1533 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 1019.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 8, 2023, 54 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MRI, Merrill Fld, runway 23, 2,000 × 60 ft, snow - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 910 total, 38 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 23.8 in the last 90 days, 15.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: AMR, 1 nm away - METAR: PAMR 172353Z 00000KT 10SM BKN070 OVC110 02/M02 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP075 T00171017 10017 21011 51003 $ ## 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 20240317002909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240317002909A), Mar 17, 2024: Michael G Darby DARD 1, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On March 17, 2024 at approximately 1420L, an airplane on wheel skiis, after a departure from mri with a trip to lake george returned to mri for landing. During… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193973. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16967865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20%20ANC24LA019_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16967875&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20ANC24LA019-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.