# NTSB ANC95LA010: Cessna 172, N6322D, Bethel, AK, November 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 1994, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.81097, -161.850738 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8110&lon=-161.8507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA010 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. A CROSSWIND AND ICY RUNWAY CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING IN A CROSSWIND AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT WITH 2 PASSENGERS. THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER WAS REPORTING A 20 DEGREE CROSSWIND AND THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DRIFTING OFF OF THE APPROACH COURSE. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THEN SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND RAN OFF THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY NEAR THE END. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A SNOW BERM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR TO NIL AND AT TOUCHDOWN, THE CROSSWIND WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 1994, at approximately 1550 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna Model 172 airplane, N6322D, operated by Ryan Air Service, Inc. collided with terrain during the landing rollout on runway 29 at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and his two revenue passengers, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand flight last departed Akiak, Alaska at 1529 and the intended destination was Bethel. The pilot reported that special VFR conditions prevailed in the control zone and that the flight was on a company VFR flight plan. The pilot reported that during the landing flare, he noticed the airplane begin to drift off the final approach course. After touchdown, the airplane bounced and then settled onto the runway. The airplane skidded off the edge of the ice covered, snow packed runway adjacent to taxiway F, and the horizontal stabilizer struck a snow berm. The runway braking action was reported by the pilot as poor to nil. The substantial damage/accident assessment was reported to the NTSB on November 18, 1994, by an FAA airworthiness inspector. At 1550 hours weather observation at Bethel was reporting in part: Sky condition, partially obscured, measured ceiling, 900 feet overcast; visibility, 1 mile in blowing snow and fog; temperature, 19 degrees F; dew point, 17 degrees F; wind, 310 degrees at 18 knots, gusts to 25 knots; altimeter, 29.64 inHg; remarks, blowing snow obscuring 2/10ths of the sky. The pilot reported that at touchdown, the winds were 250 degrees at 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6322D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6322D-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 17272716, 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 - Airframe hours: 3092 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Ryan Air Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 30, 1994, 19 hours before - Departed: AKI, AKIAK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 29, 1,850 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 106 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BET, 1 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 19941112040719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941112040719A), Nov 12, 1994: Cessna 172N, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. Skidded off side of ice covered snow packed runway landing. Gusty crosswind a contributing factor. ## Other investigations on N6322D (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 DEN83LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA100), Apr 19, 1983: Cessna 172N (N6322D), Martinsdale, MT, destroyed 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.