# NTSB ANC25LA023: Cessna 172, N5375R, Cantwell, AK, March 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 10, 2025, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Cantwell, AK
- Coordinates: 63.328762, -149.13677
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.3288&lon=-149.1368&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199837/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199837
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA023

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low-altitude maneuver which resulted in inadvertent ground contact and a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while flying at low altitude above a remote snow-covered airstrip, he inadvertently descended, and the accident airplane’s nose wheel contacted the snow. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5375R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5375R), registered now, S/N 17263527, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M)
- 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: 17263527
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 10562
- Engines: Penn Yann Aero O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arctic Flying Club
- Registered owner: Arctic Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2025, 31 hours before
- Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: TKA, Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: UMM, Summit, runway 21, 3,814 × 80 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 434 total, 322 in this make and model, 370 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 14 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: 23 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
- Observed at: PAIN, 25 nm away
- METAR: PAIN 101956Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M05/M11 A2930 RMK AO2 SLP955 T10501106 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 20250310002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250310002359A), Mar 10, 2025: Cessna 172M, Cantwell, AK, Substantial damage. PIC left fairbanks bound for talkeetna. While flying thru broad bass decided to look at the Summit Airport runway (past). First pass over the runway was off to…

## Other investigations on N5375R (2)

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 ANC06CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA127), Aug 30, 2006: Cessna 172 (N5375R), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were rising terrain, and the…
- [NTSB SEA76FYC53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76FYC53), May 24, 1976: Cessna 172 (N5375R), Aurora, OR, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199837. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18515713&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC25LA023_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 742 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18515417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20photographs-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.

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