# NTSB ANC90LA144: Cessna 172, N7721U, Seward, AK, August 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1990, 16:39 local (Aug 14, 1990, 00:39 UTC)
- Place: Seward, AK
- Coordinates: 60.049339, -149.329788 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0493&lon=-149.3298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5428
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5428/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA144

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT LANDING IN A TIMELY MANNER RESULTING IN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY AND ON GROUND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - aborted
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT LANDED APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND, THEN RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10-15 KNOT TAILWIND. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE WINDSOCK BEFORE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7721U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7721U-2012-10-22), registration cancelled 2012-10-22, S/N 17251721, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251721
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300E 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert N. Holmes
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SWD, Seward, runway 15, 2,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 200 total, 150 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900813033469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900813033469A), Aug 13, 1990: Cessna 172E, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. Landed downwind. Tried to go around too late. Ran off end of runway.

## Other investigations on N7721U (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 LAX69D0083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX69D0083), Aug 16, 1968: Cessna 172 (N7721U), Catalina Is., CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX66D0126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66D0126), Sep 17, 1965: Cessna 172 (N7721U), San Diego, CA, 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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