Cessna 172H N8020L accident near Chugiak, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, upon touchdown on the asphalt runway, the airplane veered abruptly to the right. The airplane exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings.

Examination of the nose landing gear system revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the landing surface revealed tire witness marks consistent with the airplane touching down in a left-wing-low attitude and evidence that the right main tire did not contact the ground until after the airplane had departed the runway.

Based on the tire witness marks and the lack of preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC22LA028 for the full record.