# NTSB CEN22LA380: Cessna 172, N171Q, McCarthy, AK, August 7, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 7, 2022, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: McCarthy, AK
- Coordinates: 61.976369, -141.57128 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9764&lon=-141.5713&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA380
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105715/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105715
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA380

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in turbulent weather conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the off-field takeoff from sloping tundra, on top of a mesa, was uneventful. The left wing stalled in turbulent air, as the airplane was building airspeed to climb, and then the left wing struck the ground. The airplane cartwheeled onto the nose and came to rest about 200 yards downslope from the top of the mesa. The left wing, empennage, and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N171Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N171Q), registered now, S/N 28197, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28197
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 5121
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 2021
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,222 total, 1,405 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 60 °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 20220807014219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220807014219A), Aug 7, 2022: Cessna 172, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot states it was an off-field departure from smooth, slightly-sloping tundra area on approximately 1500'X500' mesa top at 5,400 feet elevation. Take-off…

## Other investigations on N171Q (2)

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.

- [NTSB GAA18CA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA454), Jul 25, 2018: Cessna 172 (N171Q), Meadow Lakes, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of the wrong fuel tank for departure, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ANC98LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA071), Jun 12, 1998: Cessna 172 (N171Q), Angoon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff. A factor associated with the accident was rough and uneven terrain.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105715. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14533356&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N171Q%208_14_2022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident report photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14577299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20N171Q-Rel.pdf

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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