# NTSB ANC92LA166: Cessna 172N, N734VL, Seldovia, AK, September 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1992, 12:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Seldovia, AK
- Coordinates: 59.390625, -151.66014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3906&lon=-151.6601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5805
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5805/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA166

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM A GO AROUND WHEN A TAIL WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND AND THE DOWNDRAFT.

## Analysis

AT DESTINATION OF CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH 3 PASSENGERS, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND ON SHORT FINAL AND LANDED LONG.  JUDGING HE COULD NOT STOP ON REMAINING RUNWAY, HE ABORTED THE LANDING. ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT AT THE DEPARTURE END, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT GROUND AND NOSED OVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734VL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734VL-1995-08-19), registration cancelled 1995-08-19, S/N 17269148 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269148
- Airframe hours: 1585
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harley H. Hightower
- Registered owner: Harley H. Hightower
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 1992, 20 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SOV, Seldovia, runway 16, 2,140 × 60 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 519 total, 290 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOM, 15 nm away

## 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 19920913036499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920913036499A), Sep 13, 1992: Cessna 172N, Seldovia, AK, Substantial damage. Wind shifted to tailwind on landing. Tried to go around but settled into soft ground and nosed over.

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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