# NTSB ANC95LA072: Cessna 172, N13205, Skwentna, AK, June 10, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 1995, 22:00 local (Jun 10, 1995, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 59.569259, -135.350479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5693&lon=-135.3505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA072 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE WET AND UNEVEN AIRSTRIP SURFACE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch - Nose down, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN AIRSTRIP. SHE SAID SHE RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE TO PERFORM A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. SHE WROTE IN HER REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT SHE FAILED TO ADD ENOUGH RIGHT RUDDER, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT, WENT OFF THE AIRSTRIP, HIT A DITCH AND NOSED DOWN. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 1995, about 2200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N13205, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from the Talachulitna Lodge airstrip, located approximately 10 miles south of Skwentna, Alaska. The private pilot and three passengers aboard reported no injuries. The personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The intended destination was Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot reported this was her first time attempting to takeoff from the Talachulitna Airstrip. She described the runway as a rough grass and gravel composite, that was wet near the edges. She was attempting a soft field takeoff with 10 degrees of flap. In her written report to the NTSB, she said she lifted the nose during the takeoff roll and felt the tail skid drag. She lowered the nose slightly, but the airplane began to drift to the left. She said that she didn't use enough right rudder, and the airplane continued to the left and encountered softer terrain. The airplane went off the edge of the airstrip, through some small trees and brush, and ultimately stopped nose down in a ditch alongside the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13205](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13205), registered now, S/N 17262572, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262572 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Anchorage Flying Club - Registered owner: Carolyn Becton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 9, 1995, 1 hours before - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: NONE, Talachulitna Lodge ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 8 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19950609017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950609017839A), Jun 9, 1995: Cessna 172M, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control trying to depart rough grass strip. Veered off runway into small trees brush and a ditch. 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.