# NTSB ANC25LA014: Cessna 172N, N3552E, Anchorage, AK, December 31, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 31, 2024, 13:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.215714, -149.84268 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2157&lon=-149.8427&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA014 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during touch-and-go operations on an ice-covered runway during her first solo flight. ## 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 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, after performing her first solo landing while conducting touch-and-go landings on an ice-covered runway, she inadvertently allowed the airplane to veer to the left of runway centerline while reconfiguring the airplane for takeoff. The student pilot reported overcorrecting with right rudder and while attempting to correct the overcorrection by applying left rudder, she inadvertently applied the left brake, resulting in a loss of directional control. The airplane exited the runway surface and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, right aileron, right lift strut, and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3552E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3552E), registered now, S/N 17271584, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271584 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 13676.2 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Angel Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 20, 2024, 69.3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: PAMR - METAR: PAMR 312153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR M09/M12 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP215 T10891122 ## 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 20241231019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241231019509A), Dec 31, 2024: Cessna 172N, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On December 31, 2024, at approximately 1400, a Cessna 172 piloted by a part 61 student pilot taking training through a part 141 pilot school on her first… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199498. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18256370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA014%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18258323&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA014%20Photos-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.