Cessna 172 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, December 5, 2003
On December 5, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2459L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Bold Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area, and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a stump, and subsequent loss of control. Factors associated with the accident were snow-covered terrain and a stump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Bold Airstrip · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2459L · registry record · serial 17255659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo pilot reported that during touchdown on the snow-covered, 1,000 foot long by 30 foot wide airstrip, the main wheels contacted deeper snow than he had anticipated. The pilot said that before departing, he taxied the airplane back-and-forth on the airstrip to pack the snow to provide a suitable takeoff surface. He indicated that the departure end of the airstrip extended to the shoreline of a lake, which was covered with a thin layer of ice. During the takeoff run, the airplane's acceleration was hindered due to deep and loose snow on the surface of the airstrip. Nearing the end of the airstrip, the airplane lifted off, but would not climb. The airplane passed over the departure end of the airstrip, and the nose wheel struck a large stump that was located on the beach, between the end of the airstrip and the shoreline of the lake. After the collision, the airplane descended onto the surface of the ice-covered lake, approximately 70 feet from the shoreline, and broke through the ice. Prior to the airplane sinking, the pilot swam to shore. The pilot said that prior to the sinking, he saw structural damage to the airplane's wings and empennage. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,330 hours in all; 1,394 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,248 as pilot in command; 469 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,494.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 2003; 4.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MRI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.35 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2459L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2459L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G 21 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bold Airport · nearest airport
- Merrill Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2459L 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC04LA012.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.