# NTSB ANC99LA088: Cessna 140, N4205N, North Pole, AK, June 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 1999, 06:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.770019, -147.329742 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7700&lon=-147.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46717/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were a wet grass runway, and the pilot's excessive application of the brakes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing on a grass-covered private airstrip. The airstrip was about 2,000 feet long, and about 75 feet wide. The pilot reported his landing approach was high, and he landed long, about 3/4 down the runway, on wet grass. A light rain was falling. The pilot applied the brakes, and locked them. The airplane began to skid, and drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck tall brush along the right side of the airstrip, and the airplane pivoted to the right. It continued to skid sideways until the left main landing gear caught on the turf. The left wing then struck the ground. The airplane received damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 1999, about 0630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N4205N, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip, about 5 miles northwest of North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Clear Creek Army Airport, about 20 miles south of North Pole, about 0600. On July 8, 1999, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported he received notification of the accident on July 7, 1999, and he interviewed the pilot the same day. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot said he was landing on a grass-covered private airstrip known as Peede Road Strip. The airstrip is about 2,000 feet long, and about 75 feet wide. The pilot reported he landed long, about 3/4 down the runway, on wet grass. A light rain was falling. He applied the brakes, and locked them. The airplane began to skid, and drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck tall brush along the right side of the airstrip, and the airplane pivoted to the right. It continued to skid sideways until the left main landing gear caught on the turf. The left wing then struck the ground. The airplane received damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the landing gear. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he reported that his landing approach to the Peede Road airstrip was high. He said he touched down too far down-field, and applied heavy braking. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4205N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4205N), registered now, S/N 13676 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13676 - Airframe hours: 3861 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas R. Bourne - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 1999, 18 hours before - Departed: 2AK2, AK - Airport: Peede Road Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 182 total, 150 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19990622022289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990622022289A), Jun 22, 1999: Cessna 140, Northpole, AK, Substantial damage. On June 22, 1999, about 0630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N4205N, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private… 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.