Cessna 172 N7176A

Summary

On 27 November 2015 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N7176A, operated by Tousignant John R, was involved in an accident near Manley Hot Springs, 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

27 November 2015 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.4000, -151.4100

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N7176A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Tousignant John R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manley Hot Springs → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC16CA009

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to depart from an unsuitable, off-airport site, which resulted in a collision with a tree.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that prior to departing in a ski-equipped airplane, from a remote frozen, snow covered lake; he prepared the off-airport site by packing down the loose snow. During his takeoff roll, the left ski slid off the prepared surface, and encountered loose snow and water overflow which pulled the airplane hard to the left. The left wing struck a tree, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if he had prepared a wider takeoff area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.