# NTSB ANC85LA068: Cessna A152AEROBAT, N761UC, Whittier, AK, April 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1985, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Whittier, AK
- Coordinates: 60.849163, -148.030303 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8492&lon=-148.0303&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): 4481
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4481/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA068

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE RECONNAISANCE OF THE AIRPORT PRIOR TO LANDING AND DID NOT AVAIL HIMSELF OF ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761UC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761UC-1993-10-08), registration cancelled 1993-10-08, S/N A1520987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A152AEROBAT (A152AEROBA)
- Registry model: [Cessna A152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a152) (registry code 2071836) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A1520987
- Airframe hours: 1594
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aviation Netword
- Registered owner: Glyn Scales
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 3, 1985, 0 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: AK66, Whittier, runway 21, 1,500 × 75 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 94 total, 55 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 5WT

## 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 19850422015929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850422015929A), Apr 22, 1985: Cessna A152, Whittier, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled during the flare into 4 feet of snow covering runway, nosed over. Thought marks on snow were tire tracks.

## Other investigations on N761UC (1)

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 ANC87LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA037), Feb 20, 1987: Cessna A152 (N761UC), Chugiak, 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.

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