# NTSB ANC93LA059: Cessna 172, N6332D, Kasigluk, AK, May 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 1993, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Kasigluk, AK - Coordinates: 60.869163, -162.540283 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8692&lon=-162.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA059 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A NARROW, WET, SOFT GRAVEL RUNWAY WITH A CROSSWIND. THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND THE CROSSWIND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS USING ONLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GRAVEL RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF BECAUSE IT '...WAS IN A LITTLE BETTER CONDITION' THAN THE RIGHT HALF OF THE RUNWAY WHICH WAS VERY WET AND SOFT FROM THE MELTING WINTER SNOW. DUE TO WET SPOTS ON THE LEFT SIDE, SOME OF THE LEFT EDGE CONE MARKERS HAD BEEN MOVED IN TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY, MAKING THE TAKEOFF AREA EVEN NARROWER. DURING LIFTOFF THE AIRPLANE WEATHERVANED DUE TO A CROSSWIND, AND THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & ELEVATOR COLLIDED WITH ONE OF THE 3-FT HIGH RUNWAY EDGE RUBBER CONE MARKERS. THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN REOPENED 4/27 AFTER HAVING BEEN CLOSED FOR 10 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE MELTING SNOW. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 1, 1993, at 1415 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N6332D, operated by RobAir, of Bethel, Alaska, struck a runway edge cone marker during takeoff from the airport at Kasigluk, Alaska. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The unscheduled domestic passenger flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, was destined for Bethel. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview immediately after the accident, the pilot stated the following in part: "The right half of the runway was very wet and soft from the melting winter snow, so I was taking off using the left side only, which was in a little better condition. Because of some soft wet spots on the left side, some of the left edge cone markers had been moved in toward the center of the runway, making the takeoff area even narrower. Just as the airplane was lifting off the runway, it weathervaned to the right because of the right gusty 10 to 15 knot crosswind. This caused the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator to hit one of the 3 foot high runway edge rubber cone markers. I looked back and could not see any significant damage to the airplane, and it seemed to fly stable. Because of the poor condition of the Kasigluk Runway, I decided to continue the flight back to Bethel, which was only about a 13 minute flight. Other considerations were that Bethel had a better runway, and emergency medical personnel if we should need them." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Bethel is located 24 miles east of Kasigluk. At 1353 on the day of the accident the Bethel weather was 5,000 feet scattered, 60 miles visibility, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 38 degrees Fahrenheit, winds 320 degrees at 11 knots, and altimeter setting 29.56 inches of mercury. After being closed for 10 days because of the melting snow, the Kasigluk runway was reopened on April 27, 1993, as reported by FAA Bethel NOTAM Number 04/017. Shortly after the accident the pilot reported that the airplane sustained only minor damage to it's left elevator and horizontal stabilizer. Several days later the damaged components were examined by FAA Inspector Walter G. Zackowitz, FSDO-03, Anchorage, Alaska. He reported the damage to be substantial by NTSB criteria. Shortly after the accident the operator ceased operation and surrendered his Part 135 Air Taxi Certificate to the FAA. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6332D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6332D), registered now, S/N 17272720, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272720 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Goethals, Robert M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000 - Departed: Z09 - Destination: BET, BETHEL, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Z09, Kasigluk, runway 17, 2,100 × 35 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 500 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °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 19930501012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930501012339A), May 1, 1993: Cessna 172N, Kasigluk, AK, Substantial damage. Struck a runway marker on takeoff damaging left elevator and left stabilizer. Continued takeoff. Landed at bethe. ## Other investigations on N6332D (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 ANC22LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA024), Mar 20, 2022: Cessna 172N (N6332D), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.