Cessna 172 N2459L

Summary

On 5 December 2003 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N2459L was involved in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 December 2003 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chugiak, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Bold Airstrip (A13)

Coordinates

61.3333, -148.9833

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N2459L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04LA012

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area, and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a stump, and subsequent loss of control. Factors associated with the accident were snow-covered terrain and a stump.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo pilot reported that during touchdown on the snow-covered, 1,000 foot long by 30 foot wide airstrip, the main wheels contacted deeper snow than he had anticipated. The pilot said that before departing, he taxied the airplane back-and-forth on the airstrip to pack the snow to provide a suitable takeoff surface. He indicated that the departure end of the airstrip extended to the shoreline of a lake, which was covered with a thin layer of ice. During the takeoff run, the airplane's acceleration was hindered due to deep and loose snow on the surface of the airstrip. Nearing the end of the airstrip, the airplane lifted off, but would not climb. The airplane passed over the departure end of the airstrip, and the nose wheel struck a large stump that was located on the beach, between the end of the airstrip and the shoreline of the lake. After the collision, the airplane descended onto the surface of the ice-covered lake, approximately 70 feet from the shoreline, and broke through the ice. Prior to the airplane sinking, the pilot swam to shore. The pilot said that prior to the sinking, he saw structural damage to the airplane's wings and empennage. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.