# NTSB ANC95LA035: Cessna 150M, N88808, Glennallen, AK, March 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 1995, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Glennallen, AK - Coordinates: 62.100479, -145.530563 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1005&lon=-145.5306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2632/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA035 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE A SOFT, SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis DURING A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS IN THE AREA OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE PILOT TURNED AROUND, HOWEVER THEN NOTICED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS SEEMED TO IMPROVE. HE AGAIN STARTED TOWARD THE DESTINATION. WEATHER CONDITIONS AGAIN DETERIORATED AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND AT A REMOTE AIRSTRIP FOR FUEL. THE RUNWAY WAS SNOW COVERED AND HAD SEVERAL TRACKS THAT APPEARED TO BE AIRCRAFT WHEEL TRACKS. THE PILOT EVALUATED THE RUNWAY CONDITION FROM THE AIR AND IT APPEARED TO BE HARD-PACKED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED ABOUT 9 INCHES OF SOFT SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE RUNWAY IS UNATTENDED AND MAINTAINED BY LOCAL PARTIES ON AN UNOFFICIAL BASIS. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 37 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 1995, about 1420 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150, N88808, crashed during landing at Skelton Airstrip near the Eureka Roadhouse, about 50 miles southwest of Glennallen, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) solo cross-country instructional flight to Gulkana Airport, Glennallen, when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Red Baron Air, Anchorage, Alaska, sustained substantial damage. The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, about 1110. The pilot reported that as the flight progressed through the Tahneta Pass, he observed low ceilings in the area of Glennallen and decided to turn around. The weather then seemed to improve and the pilot once again headed toward Glennallen. The pilot indicated that the weather conditions again deteriorated and he decided to land at Skelton airstrip for fuel. The pilot evaluated the runway surface from the air. The runway appeared hard-packed with numerous tracks on the surface. The pilot performed a soft field landing on runway 03 and during the touchdown, the main landing gear dug into about 9 inches of soft snow. The airplane then nosed over and received damage to the nose wheel, engine, and vertical stabilizer. The airport/facility directory for Skelton airstrip states in part: "Airport remarks - unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Runway 03/21 rough and soft when wet, dips and bumps in runway... Runway 03 last 1,120 feet narrows to 15 feet wide. Airport maintained by local parties on an unofficial basis." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88808](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88808), registered now, S/N 15076150, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076150 - Airframe hours: 2702 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Red Baron Air - Registered owner: Darrell R. Knackstedt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1995, 20 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: GKN, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Z37, Skelton, runway 3, 2,400 × ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 10 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots, gusting 6 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °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 19950318007149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950318007149A), Mar 18, 1995: Cessna 150M, Eureka, AK, Substantial damage. Low on fuel landed on snow covered remote strip in nine inches of snow. 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. --- 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.