# NTSB ANC26LA008: Cessna 172M, N20305, Palmer, AK, December 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 12, 2025, 16:01 local (Dec 13, 2025, 01:01 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK · Sod right of RWY 34 - Coordinates: 61.588913, -149.08635 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5889&lon=-149.0864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2026 - 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): 202156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA008 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that she was returning from a solo cross-country flight. During the landing roll, as she released back pressure on the flight controls, she stated that it felt like the right wheel “caught” and the airplane veered to the right. The student pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20305](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20305), registered now, S/N 17261176, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - 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: 17261176 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 9259.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PAQ, Palmer Municipal Airport, runway 34, 6,009 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 74 total, 10.6 in this make and model, 6.4 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: PAAQ - METAR: METAR PAAQ 130053Z 00000KT 10SM CLR M13/M16 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP260 T11281156 ## 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 20251212018429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251212018429A), Dec 12, 2025: Cessna 172M, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot in command (PIC) was conducting take-off and landing training in preparation for a check ride. After departing from birchwood airport, the PIC made a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202156. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19713091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA008%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19713924&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA008%20Pilot%20interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19713502&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA008%20Photos-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.