ANC97LA061

The pilot planned to land on a dirt runway at the end of a cross-country flight. When he arrived over the airport, the pilot noticed a large white 'X' (marking) at each end of the runway. He performed a low pass over the runway, and noted the surface contained several ruts. The pilot indicated that during the low pass, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. He corrected the drift toward the right, and the airplane descended. The main landing gear inadvertently touched down on the soft surface of the runway at an estimated airspeed of 60 MPH. The airplane immediately nosed over. The airport facility directory contained a caution that the runway was extremely soft, when wet, and unusable during spring breakup. Safety areas at both runway ends were soft and rutted.

On April 21, 1997, about 1935 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172, N5407R, crashed while maneuvering at Ninilchik, 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 flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, at 1820.

On April 21, 1997, at 2100, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he planned to land on runway 28. When he arrived over the airport, the pilot noticed that each end of the runway was marked with a large white "X". The pilot then performed a low pass over the runway and noted the surface contained several ruts. During the low pass, the pilot indicated a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. He corrected the drift toward the right and the airplane descended. The main landing gear inadvertently touched down on the soft surface of the runway at an estimated airspeed of 60 MPH. The airplane immediately nosed over. The airplane received damage to the empennage and the left wing.

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Section 2-3-6. OTHER MARKINGS, states, in part: "e. Temporarily Closed Runways and Taxiways - To provide a visual indication to pilots that a runway is temporarily closed, crosses are placed on the runway only at each end of the runway. The crosses are yellow in color. See Figure 2-3-22. 1. A raised lighted yellow cross may be placed on each runway end in lieu of the markings described in subparagraph "e" (above) to indicate the runway is closed. 2. A visual indication may not be present depending on the reason for the closure, duration of the closure, airfield configuration and the existence and the hours of operation of an airport traffic control Tower. Pilots should check NOTAMs and the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS) for local Runway and taxiway closure information."

The Alaska Supplement/Facility Directory states, in part: "Airport remarks - Unattended. Runway condition not monitored. Recommend visual inspection prior to use. Runway 10-28 marked with reflective threshold panels. Panels set unevenly and are partially damaged. Runway extremely soft when wet and unusable during spring breakup. Safety areas at both runway ends soft and rutted."