- Date
- April 12, 2025, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Girdwood, AK · Runway
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N916GGCessna 182B
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Roll over
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20250412005109A
- Case key
- 200007
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
Before landing, the pilot reported that he had completed a low reconnaissance pass over the snow-covered runway. While conducting the low pass he noticed tire tracks in the snow and determined the snow was about 6 inches in depth. On final approach, he set the flaps to 30 degrees and performed a soft field landing. The main landing gear touched down into the snow with no issues. He applied additional engine power to cushion the nosewheel touchdown. As the nosewheel touched down, it dug into the snow and the nosewheel “slammed” into the ground. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, vertical stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N916GG
- Reported as
- Cessna 182B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 52236
- Built
- 1959
- Airframe hours
- 5,010
- Engine
- Continental O-470R, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 9, 2024 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- PAAQ · Palmer, AK
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- AQY · Girdwood, runway 02, 2,095 × 60 ft, snow
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 10, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 90 in this make and model · 30 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Turbulence
- Moderate
- Observed at
- PANC, 29 nm away
- METAR
- PANC 121953Z 00000KT 10SM BKN065 OVC200 02/M07 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP118 T00171067 $
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.