Cessna 172 N4231F

Summary

On 27 November 1995 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N4231F was involved in an accident near Kasilof, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 November 1995 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kasilof, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.2798, -151.2595

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N4231F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA015

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadvertent liftoff, and an inoperative elevator that became jammed due to frozen slush/snow.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from a frozen lake after he had attempted a touch and go on the lake's surface to test its suitability for landing. The airplane touched down in crusty snow and water and the airplane bogged down. The pilot said he was able to taxi to a better part of the lake to attempt to takeoff. Prior to his takeoff attempt, he was packing snow with the airplane by making several high speed taxi runs across his intended takeoff area. On the last taxi run prior to his intended takeoff attempt, the airplane inadvertently became airborne when he lifted the nosewheel to pass over a wet spot. The pilot tried to push the nose down, but the airplane's elevator was frozen by accumulated snow and slush. The pilot reduced engine power, and the airplane collided with the lake.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.