# NTSB ANC85LA067: Cessna 150D, N5947T, Wasilla, AK, April 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 1985, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4480/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA067

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - runway maintenance - uncontrolled, airport personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - runway maintenance - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRPLANE STRIKING THE SOFT SPOT ON THE RUNWAY. UNDERLYING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH THE SOFT RUNWAY SURFACE FROM SURROUNDING RUNWAY SURFACES, AND THE UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPERATURES FOR THAT TIME OF THE YEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5947T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5947T), registered now, S/N 15060647, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D
- Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060647
- Airframe hours: 2950
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Flying W School
- Registered owner: Walt Warner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Z16, WASILLA, AK
- Destination: Z16, WASILLA, AK
- Airport: Z16, Wasilla, runway 23, 2,100 × 90 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 780 total, 780 in this make and model, 625 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19850421015909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850421015909A), Apr 21, 1985: Cessna 150D, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Returned for landing after instructional flight. On rollout nose wheel collapsed after sinking into soft spot.

## Other investigations on N5947T (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 ANC15CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA072), Sep 7, 2015: Cessna 150D (N5947T), Delta Junction, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots decision to land on an unfamiliar, unimproved airstrip which resulted in a loss of control and runway excursion.
- [NTSB ANC69D0118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0118), Mar 19, 1969: Cessna 150 (N5947T), Glennallen, AK, substantial damage

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.