# NTSB ANC92LA028: Cessna 152, N69004, Anchorage, AK, January 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1992, 08:05 local (12:05 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219898, -149.850204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2199&lon=-149.8502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA028

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, THE ICY RUNWAY CONDITION, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - roll/run
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, WITH 1 HOUR OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME, WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT NIGHT ON A SNOW PACKED ICY RUNWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED.  THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK.  DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PILOT COULD NOT ASCERTAIN THE POSITION OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT.  A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND RUN UP OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.  THERE WAS NO INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT IN THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK AUTHORIZING NIGHT FLIGHT OPERATIONS.  THE MANNER IN WHICH SOLO FLIGHT LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS WERE TO BE PERFORMED WAS NOT STIPULATED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69004](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69004-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N 15282426, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282426
- Airframe hours: 9351
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph Wilbur, doing business as Flight Safety Alaska
- Registered owner: Joseph Wilbur
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000, 49 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 6, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 20 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg

## 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 19920109000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920109000979A), Jan 9, 1992: Cessna 152, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine sputtered on go around. Aborted. Slid off runway into snowbank. No endorsement for night or icy runway.

## Other investigations on N69004 (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 ANC81DAG24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG24), Feb 12, 1981: Cessna 152 (N69004), Anchorage, 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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