Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172H near Manokotak, AK — 2025-06-29

Final reportANC25LA056
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Date
2025-06-29
Location
Manokotak, AK, USA
Airport
NONE
Aircraft
CESSNA 172H
Registration
N8085L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to recognize the wind direction, resulting in a tailwind landing.

Contributing factors

Contributing was the pilot’s failure to recognize the wind direction, resulting in a tailwind landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing on a beach, the airplane’s nosewheel dug into the soft sand. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and left wing strut. A witness, who was located about 1 mile west of the accident site, reported that the airplane had landed with a tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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