Atmautluak Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atmautluak, Alaska 99559
Wednesday, January 3, 2001 17:40 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated commercial pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 33, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend below his intended glide path. In an attempt to arrest the descent he applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane inadvertently touched down on the snow-covered approach end of the runway, about 15 yards short of the runway surface. As he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane become airborne, drifted to the left of the runway, and settled into an area of soft snow. During the second touchdown, the nose wheel collapsed at the firewall bulkhead. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during final approach. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Atmautluak
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 605200N
Event Location Longitude 1621639W
Event Location Airport Atmautluak
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4A2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 17
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11388
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 3 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N19771
NTSB Number ANC01LA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17260739
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 27 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 4115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Village Aviation, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.Box 221188
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99522
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code HYQA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BET
Departure City Bethel
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 4A2
Destination City Atmautluak
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 29 2002 5:27PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --