Cessna 172 N5375R accident near Cantwell, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low-altitude maneuver which resulted in inadvertent ground contact and a nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, while flying at low altitude above a remote snow-covered airstrip, he inadvertently descended, and the accident airplane’s nose wheel contacted the snow. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC25LA023 for the full record.