# NTSB ANC98LA042: Cessna 172M, N8969V, Anchor Point, AK, April 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1998, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Anchor Point, AK - Coordinates: 59.82011, -151.589782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8201&lon=-151.5898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3134/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind. A related factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The pilot and three passengers were departing from a sand/gravel beach. The wind was blowing from the south about 7 to 10 knots. The pilot began the accident flight take off toward the west, utilizing a short field takeoff technique. Just after lift off, the airplane encountered a crosswind from the left. The airplane veered to the right, toward a small bluff and the right main landing gear struck a shoreline embankment shearing off the right main landing gear. The airplane came to rest in a small pool of water. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1998, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172M airplane, N8969V, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain while taking off from a beach area, about 34 miles west of Anchor Point, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and three passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 26, 1998, at 2125, the pilot reported he rented the airplane from Bush Air Ventures Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The pilot said he was departing a beach at Clam Cove, located in the Lake Clark National Park. The wind was blowing from the south about 7 to 10 knots. The pilot began the accident flight take off toward the west, utilizing a short field takeoff technique. Just after lift off, the airplane encountered a crosswind and veered to the right, toward a small bluff. The right main landing gear struck the bluff, tearing off the gear. The airplane came to rest in a small pool of water. The pilot had accrued 70 hours of total flight experience, all of which was accrued in the accident airplane. The pilot received his private pilot certificate on April 25, 1998. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8969V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8969V), registered now, S/N 17264325 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2d) (registry code 42123, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-64325 - Airframe hours: 4916 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory W. Champion - Registered owner: Stephen Ginnett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 29, 1998, 84 hours before - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19980426007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980426007829A), Apr 26, 1998: Cessna 172M, Anchor Point, AK, Substantial damage. Crosswind takeoff from a beach. On liftoff dirfted. Right main gear hit a bluff. Impact tore off gear. (From .4) the pilot and three passengers were departing… 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.