# NTSB ANC96LA015: Cessna 172, N4231F, Kasilof, AK, November 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1995, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Kasilof, AK - Coordinates: 60.27975, -151.259475 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2797&lon=-151.2595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent liftoff, and an inoperative elevator that became jammed due to frozen slush/snow. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - slush covered (contributing factor) - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - flight control,elevator - frozen - flight control,elevator - jammed (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from a frozen lake after he had attempted a touch and go on the lake's surface to test its suitability for landing. The airplane touched down in crusty snow and water and the airplane bogged down. The pilot said he was able to taxi to a better part of the lake to attempt to takeoff. Prior to his takeoff attempt, he was packing snow with the airplane by making several high speed taxi runs across his intended takeoff area. On the last taxi run prior to his intended takeoff attempt, the airplane inadvertently became airborne when he lifted the nosewheel to pass over a wet spot. The pilot tried to push the nose down, but the airplane's elevator was frozen by accumulated snow and slush. The pilot reduced engine power, and the airplane collided with the lake. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 1995, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172, N4231F, collided with terrain during an unplanned departure from Bear Lake, about 34 miles west of Kasilof, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, (registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that he was going to land to check on a remote cabin, located near the coast of Reboubt Bay. The intended landing was on the frozen surface of Bear Lake. The pilot noticed about 4 inches of snow on the surface and attempted to bounce the airplane on the ice surface to assess the ice condition. He indicated that he rapidly added engine power to begin a go-around but the engine hesitated and he decided to reduce power and land. After landing, the pilot noticed several areas of snow drift and some areas of standing water that had overflowed onto the ice. The pilot attempted to make a takeoff path on the lake and decided to make several taxi runs to help in compacting any snow. During the taxi runs, the pilot indicated that he crossed several areas of standing water while holding aft elevator control to minimize any potential damage to the nose wheel of the airplane. During one of the taxi runs, the airplane suddenly became airborne and climbed to about 25 feet above the ground. The pilot attempted to push the control yoke forward but found the elevator was frozen. He reduced engine power and the airplane descended to the lake surface in a nose down attitude. The airplane received damage to the nose wheel, engine, and firewall. After the collision, the pilot noticed about 1 and 1/2 inches of ice on the empennage and elevator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4231F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4231F), registered now, S/N 46131 (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: 46131 - Airframe hours: 3324 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick J. Mc Elroy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 1995, 15 hours before - Destination: 5KS, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,017 total, 450 in this make and model, 927 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °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 19951127040579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951127040579A), Nov 27, 1995: Cessna 172, Kasilof, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on snow covered frozen lake. Taxied back and forth to compact snow. On takeoff elevator frozen. Nosed in. 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.