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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 20, 1995 · Cessna 172N · N733RW

Anchorage, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 20, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Anchorage, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N733RW
Operator
Teddy B Jensen
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC95LA042

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS TO A RUNWAY THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN CLEARED OF SNOW. THE SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS CREATED 3 TO 4 FOOT HIGH SNOWBERMS ALONG THE RUNWAY EDGES THAT REDUCED THE RUNWAY WIDTH ABOUT 25 PERCENT. FOLLOWING A LANDING, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ADDED RIGHT RUDDER INPUT; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BEGAN CONTACTING THE SNOWBERM ALONG THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED TO THE LEFT INTO THE SNOWBERM AND NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 51 HOURS OF TOTAL TIME WITH 15 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

On March 20, 1995, at 1336 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172N, N733RW, collided with terrain at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Far North Aviation, Anchorage, received substantial damage. The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate and the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field about 1200. The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 33 and was planning to perform touch and go landings. After touchdown, the pilot added engine power and the airplane began to drift to the left. He added right rudder input; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left. The airplane's left main landing gear contacted a 3 to 4 foot high snow berm located along the left edge of the runway, about 10 feet inside the runway lights. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and cut the engine power and attempted to stop. The airplane pivoted to the left into the snowberm and nosed down. The pilot reported that his total aeronautical experience consisted of 51.5 hours of flight time. He had accrued 14.6 hours in the accident aircraft make and model. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector of the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), inspected the airplane on March 30, 1995. He reported that wing repairs included replacement of wing ribs and splicing of the wing spar. The FAA reported that the runway had patchy areas of snow and ice with several bare spots. Recent snow removal operations had created the snowberms, reducing the runway width about 25 percent.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:36 AKST
Nearest AirportMerrill Field (0nm)
Runway33
Runway Length2640 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN733RW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTeddy B Jensen
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 8 kt
Visibility80 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:38
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data