# NTSB ANC95LA024: Cessna 172, N7137T, Unalakleet, AK, December 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Unalakleet, AK - Coordinates: 64.0895, -160.359375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.0895&lon=-160.3594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2621/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA024 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION. A CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS TAXIING HIS HIGH-WING, WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF IN A NORTHBOUND DIRECTION. A CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 25 KNOTS WAS BLOWING FROM THE EAST. DURING THE TAXI, THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A SMALL SNOW BANK AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN SLIGHTLY. THE WIND THEN PICKED UP THE AFT END OF THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT ONTO ITS NOSE. THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE RAMP AND INTO A SNOWMOBILE PACKING CRATE. ## Factual narrative On December 25, 1994, at 1430 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N7137T, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed down and skidded into a packing crate while taxiing for takeoff at Unalakleet, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing Unalakleet and the destination was Teller, Alaska. A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. According to the pilot, during taxi he hit a small snow bank that caused the airplane to nose down. The wind then skidded the airplane into a snowmobile packing crate which put a hole in the cabin roof. The pilot indicated that he was taxiing northbound and the winds of about 25 knots were from the east. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose down, taxi - to takeoff - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7137T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7137T), registered now, S/N 46737, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46737 - Airframe hours: 3930 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Falsey, James E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1994, 26 hours before - Departed: UNK - Destination: AK54, TELLER, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: UNK, Unalakleet ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 493 total, 412 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °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 19941225044029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941225044029A), Dec 25, 1994: Cessna 172, Unalakleet, AK, Substantial damage. Struck snowbank on taxi for takeoff. Nosed down. 25KNOT crosswind blew plane into large crate. Crosswind excessive. ## Other investigations on N7137T (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 ANC21LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA061), Jul 16, 2021: Cessna 172 (N7137T), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to detonation/preignition damage to the No. 2 cylinder. The reason for the detonation/preignition damage could not be determined based on the available evidence. 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.