# NTSB ANC96LA112: Cessna 172K, N78108, Nikiski, AK, August 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1996, 20:00 local (Aug 3, 1996, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Location: 60.6903° N, 151.2889° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nikiski, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6903&lon=-151.2889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor was the windshear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane was approximately 50 to 75 feet above the runway, just entering the landing flare, when the airplane suddenly dropped and landed hard. The airplane bounced twice, collapsing the nose gear and the left main landing gear, and then nosed over. The pilot estimated the surface wind as a quartering headwind at 10 to 15 knots. He believes that he had sufficient airspeed prior to the sudden sinking of the airplane, and thinks he may have encountered windshear. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 1996, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172K airplane, N78108, sustained substantial damage while landing at the McGann Industrial airstrip, Nikiski, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1900. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 5, the pilot stated he was landing to the west with a quartering headwind estimated at 10 to 15 knots. He said he had the appropriate airspeed for the landing approach, but the airplane suddenly dropped 50 to 75 feet and struck the runway. The airplane bounced, landed again hard, and nosed over. The pilot suspects that he encountered a windshear while on final approach. He also stated he believes that the nosegear collapsed during the first bounce, and on the second touchdown, the left main gear collapsed, which allowed the airplane to nose over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78108](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78108-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 17257485, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257485 - Airframe hours: 4127 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew Hightower - Registered owner: Harley Hightower - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1996, 15 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: L-3A - Airport: L-3A, Mcgann Industrial, runway 27, 2,500 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 159 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 285° at 15 knots - Visibility: 70 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19960802020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960802020819A), Aug 2, 1996: Cessna 172K, Nikishka, AK, Substantial damage. Dropped to runway on flare. Bounced and nosed over. Failed take corrective action. Blamed windshear. 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.