On 5 Mar 2011, a CESSNA 172R operated by ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE AERO CLUB was involved in an aviation accident near Montana Creek, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot mistook a private airstrip for the destination airport, landing on snow and crossing a snow machine track, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain substantial damage.
Incident Description
A pilot was flying from one airport to another using a highway as a reference. During the flight, he spotted an airport that he believed to be his destination and proceeded to make a straight-in approach for landing. Just before touchdown, the pilot realized that he was not landing at the correct airport but instead was approaching a snow-covered, unplowed private airstrip. He stated that he did not have time to execute a go-around and consequently landed on the snow.
Upon landing, the airplane crossed a snow machine track and nosed over. The pilot reported that the engine firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage as a result of the incident.