# NTSB ANC97LA021: Hefty Polar CUB, N62905, Anchorage, AK, January 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 15, 1997, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.159091, -149.989135 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1591&lon=-149.9891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2961/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA021 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from a snow berm during the landing. The snow berm and flat light conditions were related factors. ## Analysis The pilot and a passenger were landing on a frozen lake at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. The pilot reported that overcast clouds and flat lighting conditions prevented him from seeing an approximate 3 feet high snow berm at the approach end of the landing area. The berm resulted from snow plowing operations to create an ice skating area on the lake. During the landing flare, the landing gear skis struck the top of the berm. The airplane came to rest on the ice and received damage to the landing gear and right wing lift strut. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 1997, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped experimental homebuilt, Curt Hefty, Polar Cub, N62905, crashed during landing on a frozen lake in Anchorage, 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 and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Big Lake, Alaska, about 1430. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 16, 1997, at 0835, the pilot reported he was landing toward the south on Jewel Lake. Overcast clouds and flat lighting conditions prevented him from seeing about a 3 feet high snow berm at the approach end of the landing area. The berm resulted from snow plowing operations to create an ice skating area on the lake. During the landing flare, the landing gear skis struck the top of the berm. The airplane came to rest on the ice and received damage to the landing gear and right wing lift strut. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - other (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62905](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62905-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 0001, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hefty POLAR CUB - Registry model: [Hefty Curt POLAR CUB](https://openairdocs.org/model/hefty-curt-polar-cub) (registry code 0560268) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Engines: Continental C-90-F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James C. Hefty - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BIG LAKE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °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 19970115001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970115001219A), Jan 15, 1997: Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Struck snowplowed berm landing on a frozen lake. Skis hit top of berm on flare. Damaged gear and wing strut. ## Other investigations on N62905 (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 ANC16FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16FA065), Sep 11, 2016: Hefty Polar Cub (N62905), Anchorage, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's severe impairment from carbon monoxide poisoning in flight, which resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent collision with trees and terrain. 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.