# NTSB ANC98LA002: Cessna 182B, N7269E, Palmer, AK, October 12, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1997, 16:20 local (Oct 12, 1997, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.620628, -148.980026 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6206&lon=-148.9800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA002

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudging the touchdown point, which resulted in landing short of the sand bar and the airplane nosing over.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, landing
  - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - sand bar
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

The tricycle gear equipped airplane was being landed on a gravel bar in calm winds.  The pilot stated that he landed short, the nose wheel dug in, and the airplane flipped over.

## Factual narrative

On October 11, 1997, at 1620 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 182B airplane, N7269E, sustained substantial damage during landing on a gravel bar near Lake George, Alaska, twenty three miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska.  The private pilot and sole passenger were uninjured.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a personal flight to drop off a friend on a hunting trip.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, winds were calm, and no flight plan was filed.

The flight originated at 1530 from the Palmer-Butte airstrip. The pilot was making his second landing on the gravel bar, having dropped off one passenger at 1550.  The airplane was equipped with 8.50 x 6 inch tires, and tricycle landing gear.

The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator during a telephone interview on October 11, 1997, that he "...Made a mistake, landed short, and the airplane nosed over onto its back."  He made the same statement to the FAA inspector.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7269E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7269E), registered now, S/N 52269, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182B
- Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 52269
- Airframe hours: 4432
- Engines: Continental O-470-L9 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Franklin K.  Hollingshead
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1997, 55 hours before
- Departed: AK01, PALMER (BUTTE), AK
- Airport: Lake George Gravel Bar

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 198 total, 140 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19971012031239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971012031239A), Oct 12, 1997: Cessna 182B, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over landing short of gravel bar. Equipped with tundra tires.

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.

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