# NTSB ANC99LA022: Cessna 172, N8373L, Bethel, AK, January 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 1999, 13:51 local (17:51 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.810386, -161.849349 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8104&lon=-161.8493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45634/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's attempted flight into adverse weather. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, icing conditions, and an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The certificated private pilot departed the accident airport under a special VFR clearance. The pilot reported that shortly after a northeasterly departure, severe icing conditions were encountered, and she elected to return to the Bethel airport. She said that forward visibility was restricted due to heavy ice build-up on the airplane's windscreen, requiring her to do a series of 'S' turns to find the airport. She reported that just prior to touchdown, the airplane stalled above the runway threshold, and landed hard in a nose low attitude. She stated, in part: 'I just got into icing conditions. That's what caused it.' The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage. In her written statement to the NTSB, the pilot noted that her predeparture weather information was obtained from the Bethel automatic terminal information service (ATIS), and the recorded automated weather observation system (AWOS) message close to her intended destination. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 1999, about 1351 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N8373L, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Bethel airport, about 1340. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on January 10, the pilot stated that she had departed the accident airport under a special VFR clearance. The pilot reported that shortly after a northeasterly departure, severe icing conditions were encountered, and she elected to return to the Bethel airport. She said that forward visibility was restricted due to heavy ice build-up on the airplane's windscreen, requiring her to do a series of "S" turns to find the airport. She reported that just prior to touchdown, the airplane stalled above the runway threshold, and landed hard in a nose low attitude. She stated, in part: "I just got into icing conditions. That's what caused it." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The closest weather observation station is located in Bethel. On January 10, at 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 060 degrees at 10 knots; visibility, 2 statute miles in light snow and mist; clouds, 600 feet broken, 1,700 feet overcast; temperature, 6 degrees F; dew point, 3 degrees F; altimeter, 29.99 inHg; remarks, ceiling variable between 500 feet and 1,000 feet. In her written statement to the NTSB, the pilot noted that her predeparture weather information was obtained from the Bethel automatic terminal information service (ATIS), and the recorded automated weather observation system (AWOS) message close to her intended destination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8373L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8373L), registered now, S/N 17256573, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256573 - Airframe hours: 2649 - Engines: Lycoming O320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeannine P. Faulkner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 1998, 40 hours before - Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 36, 6,398 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 300 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAB ## 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 19990110004629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990110004629A), Jan 10, 1999: Cessna 172P, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 10, 1999, about 1351 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N8373L, sustained substantial damage while landing at the… 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.