# NTSB ANC26LA011: Cessna 150K, N6333G, Anchorage, AK, January 25, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 24, 2026, 20:00 local (Jan 25, 2026, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.17, -149.96 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1700&lon=-149.9600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202336 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202336/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202336 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA011 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s unintentional selection of the wrong, snow-covered landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 150K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071822), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot had been conducting night landing practice at a secondary airport. The flight instructor reported that during the return leg of the flight, while on approach to land at their home airport, he took control of the airplane from the student pilot. The flight instructor subsequently lost situational awareness and inadvertently aligned the airplane with a snow covered waterway instead of the intended runway. The airplane touched down on the snow and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6333G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6333G), registered now, S/N 15071833 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071833 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 3210 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2025, 7 hours before - Departed: UUO, Willow, AK - Destination: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, runway West, 4,541 × 188 ft, snow - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,041 total, 41 in this make and model, 1,922 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: ALH ## 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 20260124000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260124000129A), Jan 24, 2026: Cessna 150K, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. The commercial pilot was conducting flight instruction in a Cessna CE150 tri-gear aircraft. They were practicing night landings when the student pilot handed… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202336. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19919468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA011%206120%20V3_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 815 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19920822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA011%20Photo%20Array-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.