5 Mar 2011: CESSNA 172R — ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE AERO CLUB

5 Mar 2011: CESSNA 172R — ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE AERO CLUB

No fatalities • Montana Creek, AK, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to recognize that he was landing at the wrong airstrip on a snow-covered and unplowed runway, resulting in the airplane nosing over.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

According to the pilot, he was flying from one airport to another using a highway as a reference. He saw an airport that he thought was the destination airport, and made a straight-in approach for landing. Just before touching down, the pilot realized that he was not landing at the correct airport, and was landing on a snow-covered and unplowed private airstrip. He stated that he did not have time to go around, and landed on the snow. The airplane crossed a snow machine track and nosed over. The engine firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage.

Contributing factors

  • factor Pilot
  • cause Pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 210/03kt

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