# NTSB ANC94LA038: Cessna 152, N6469B, Chugiak, AK, March 5, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 1994, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.410049, -149.170181 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4100&lon=-149.1702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2488/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA038 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FROZEN MAIN LANDING GEAR BRAKE SHOE, THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT OPERATIONS BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL AND EXTREME LOW TEMPERATURE CONDIITONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,normal brake system - frozen (contributing factor) - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport operations - uncontrolled, airport personnel (contributing factor) - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING ON A SNOW-COVERED TAXIWAY WHEN IT SWERVED AND COLLIDED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE PARKED ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP WAS ABOUT ZERO DEGREES F. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING SOME LOOSE SNOW WHILE TAXIING AND HAD ATTEMPTED TO AVOID USING THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THEM FREEZING. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 1994, at 1230 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 152 airplane, N6469B, collided with a parked automobile at Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, while taxiing. The student pilot, on a solo instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91, was not injured. Meteorological conditions were visual for the local flight planned without a VFR flight plan on file. The ambient temperature range for the day was minus four fahrenheit (-4F) to a plus six (+6F) during that day. The airplane and the automobile received substantial damage. Witnesses reported an abrupt departure of the airplane from directional control on the taxiway, whereby the airplane's wing and propeller struck the parked automobile, breaking the vehicle's back window and damaging the fender and side. The aircraft sustained damage to the right wing spar and propeller. Investigators found that the airport operations are largely uncontrolled, allowing aircraft owners to leave vehicles adjacent taxiways, on parking ramps and within wingspan distances to moving aircraft. The vehicle was parked within the wingspan distance of light aircraft, having a 32 foot wingspan that passed more than eight feet off of center the taxiway centerline. The student pilot had limited experience and no formal training in aircraft control and system hazards (brakes, hydraulics and oil) in extreme temperatures. Instructor had not adequately trained student for operations at low temperatures and was not prepared for freezing and seizing of main wheel brakes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6469B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6469B), registered now, S/N 15283938, built 1979 (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: 83938 - Airframe hours: 6779 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Geo Morris, DBA Aviation North, doing business as Aviation North - Registered owner: Datco Realty, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 1994, 48 hours before - Airport: Z15, Birchwood, runway 1, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940305003889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940305003889A), Mar 5, 1994: Cessna 152, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Student taxiing for takeoff unable clear improper parked vehicle hit frozen brake. Veered into vehicle. 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.