Casualties unknown

Aircraft Nosed Over After Hitting Runway Rut During Landing Roll (N1773U)

Kongiganak, AK, US

On July 23, 1988, a Cessna 207A (registration N1773U) operated by Armstrong Air Serv. was involved in an aviation accident near Kongiganak, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll after striking a runway rut, which resulted in the aircraft nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft touched down on a runway and struck a rut during the landing roll, causing it to nose over and come to rest on its back off the departure end of the runway.

What happened

The aircraft touched down approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a rut in the runway surface. The impact caused the plane to nosed over, and it came to rest on its back, located off the departure end of the runway.

The investigation

Investigation of the site revealed that the runway condition was a significant factor. According to FAA Flight Information Publication data for this airport, the runway is considered unusable after heavy rain and should be inspected prior to use. Additionally, the airport is not attended, meaning there is no on-site personnel to monitor or report immediate surface hazards.

Findings

The primary contributing factors were the presence of a rut in the runway surface and the failure to ensure the runway was suitable for landing given recent weather conditions. The lack of attended status at the airport likely contributed to the hazard remaining undetected.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll after striking a runway rut, which resulted in the aircraft nosing over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X26103. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.