Cessna 172P N65065 accident near Anchorage, Alaska

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that he was practicing stop-and-go landings. During the accident landing, just before touchdown, he said he felt the tail of the airplane lift, which pitched the nose of the airplane down. As the airplane touched down, he saw the propeller strike the runway, and then the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

A review of archived airport surveillance video captured the airplane as it touchdown on the runway, it then veered to the left at which time the right wing tip strikes the ground. The airplane ground looped and subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder and both wings.

The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC24LA031 for the full record.