# NTSB ANC25LA056: Cessna 172H, N8085L, Manokotak, AK, June 29, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2025, 17:56 local (Jun 29, 2025, 01:56 UTC) - Place: Manokotak, AK · Picnic Beach - Coordinates: 58.814722, -159.48572 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8147&lon=-159.4857&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - 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): 200411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200411/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to recognize the wind direction, resulting in a tailwind landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing on a beach, the airplane’s nosewheel dug into the soft sand. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and left wing strut. A witness, who was located about 1 mile west of the accident site, reported that the airplane had landed with a tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8085L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8085L), registered now, S/N 17256285, 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: 17256285 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4329 - Engines: Continental O300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 30, 2025, 11 hours before - Departed: DLG, Dillingham, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NONE, Beach - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review November 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 208 total, 123 in this make and model, 143 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: PAMB, 17 nm away - METAR: PAMB 290156Z AUTO 22009G15KT 10SM SCT060 19/11 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP129 T01890111 ## 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 20250628012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250628012509A), Jun 28, 2025: Cessna 172H, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. While landing on a beach. Performing a short field landing with 10 to 15 kt tail winds, flaps at 0 degrees. On touch down, the main landing gear sank into the… 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.