# NTSB ANC92LA110: Cessna 172, N5339H, Twin Hills, AK, July 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1992, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Twin Hills, AK
- Coordinates: 59.210456, -160.539306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.2105&lon=-160.5393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA110

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT NOTICED THAT AT LIFTOFF THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL.  HE LOOKED AT THE FLAP INDICATOR AND NOTICED HE HAD SELECTED FULL FLAPS.  HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT SOME OF THE FLAPS AND ACCIDENTLY SELECTED FULL UP.  THE AIRPLANE HIT THE TUNDRA AND CAME TO A STOP.  ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA 172 PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE USE OF TEN DEGREES OF FLAPS IS RESERVED FOR TAKEOFFS FROM SOFT OR ROUGH FIELDS.  IT FURTHER STATES THAT THE FLAPS SHOULD NOT BE RETRACTED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5339H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5339H), registered now, S/N 17265407, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265407
- Airframe hours: 4239
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Yute Air Alaska, Inc
- Registered owner: Yute Air Alaska, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 16, 1992, 27 hours before
- Destination: DLG, DILLINGHAM, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: AK63, Twin Hills, runway 1, 2,000 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,127 total, 453 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 169 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °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 19920723042449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920723042449A), Jul 23, 1992: Cessna 172M, Twin Hills, AK, Substantial damage. Took off with full flaps, slow and nose high. Dumped flaps. Stalled. Dropped level to impact off end runway.

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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