ANC22LA028

Factual narrative

On April 10, 2022, about 1320 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172H airplane, N8020L, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Birchwood, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was landing his tricycle-gear-equipped airplane. Upon touchdown on the asphalt runway, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. He attempted to correct to no avail. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. Examination of the nose landing gear system revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the landing surface revealed tire witness marks consistent with the airplane touching down on the left main tire in a left-wing-low attitude. The right main tire did not contact the ground until after the airplane had departed the runway surface. The pilot reported that, upon touchdown on the asphalt runway, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. Examination of the nose landing gear system revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the landing surface revealed tire witness marks consistent with the airplane touching down in a left-wing-low attitude and evidence that the right main tire did not contact the ground until after the airplane had departed the runway. Based on the tire witness marks and the lack of preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained