Cessna 172 accident near Atmautluak, Alaska, January 3, 2001
On January 3, 2001 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N19771, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atmautluak, Alaska (Atmautluak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during final approach. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2001 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Atmautluak, Alaska · Atmautluak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N19771 · registry record · serial 17260739
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,256 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 2,232 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,115 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 27, 2000; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BET Bethel AK at 9:35 pm
- Destination: 4A2 Atmautluak AK
- Runway 33, 2,200 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: -2°F (-19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.