# NTSB ANC93LA065: Cessna 172K, N736BY, Rohn Roadhouse, AK, May 17, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1993, 22:00 local (May 17, 1993, 06:00 UTC)
- Place: Rohn Roadhouse, AK
- Coordinates: 63.610637, -154.780517 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6106&lon=-154.7805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2340
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2340/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA065

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SPORTSMAN STOL KIT.  THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO AN UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP USING AN AIRSPEED OF 45 KNOTS INDICATED.  HE STATED THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE TO 5 KNOTS AND DURING THE LOW PASSES HE NOTICED ONLY LIGHT 'BUMPS.'  WHILE ON SHORT FINAL AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK AND HE APPLIED SOME POWER BUT NOT FULL THROTTLE.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 50 FEET SHORT OF THE AIRSTRIP IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR OFF AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On May 16, 1993, at 2200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172K airplane, N736BY, registered to and operated by the Pilot in Command, crashed short of an unimproved airstrip near the Rohn Roadhouse located on the Tatina River.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed the Rohn Roadhouse, Alaska, and the destination was the accident site.  No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The Commercial Certificated Pilot in Command and the passenger were not injured, and the airplane received substantial damage.

According to the Pilot in Command, the airplane was equipped with a Sportsman STOL kit and he was using a final approach airspeed of 45 knots.  He made a number of low passes over the airstrip and noticed only light "bumps."  While on short final, and just prior to touchdown, the airplane began to sink and he applied a boost of power, but not full power.  The airplane struck the ground about 50 feet short of the airstrip in rough terrain.  The nose gear sheared off and the airplane nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736BY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N736BY), registered now, S/N R1722408, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722408
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-K 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hill, Dwight E.
- Registered owner: Hill, Dwight E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 1993
- Destination: TATINA RIVER, AK
- Airport: Tatina River, runway 36, 700 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 775 total, 700 in this make and model, 746 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- 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 19930516014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930516014189A), May 16, 1993: Cessna R172K, Rohn Roadhouse, AK, Substantial damage. Sink rate on final not checked with enough power. Landed 50 feet short of strip. Nose gear collapsed. 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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