Cessna 172S accident near Girdwood, Alaska, December 28, 2008
On December 28, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N453SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Girdwood, Alaska (Girdwood airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's lack of action to correct a high and fast landing approach which resulted in a long landing, and subsequent collision with a snow berm at the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Girdwood, Alaska · Girdwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N453SP · registry record · serial 172S8297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot/student, seated in the left seat, and the certified flight instructor, seated in the right seat, departed on a visual flight rules flight for mountain flying instruction and an Aero Club airplane checkout. The instructor decided to have the pilot land at an airport that had a 2,088 foot long runway. The first approach to the airport was high and fast, and the landing approach was aborted. On the second approach, the airplane was again high and fast, and touched down about 600 to 800 feet beyond the runway threshold. The runway surface was compacted snow and ice, and the braking action was poor. The airplane collided with a snow berm at the end of the runway, and received substantial damage to the landing gear and fuselage. The flight instructor did not take control of the airplane at any time before or during the accident sequence.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 716 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 133 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 27, 2008; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: U.S. Air Force
The flight
- Departed from: PAED Elmendorf Afb AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: PAED Elmendorf Afb AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 2,008 ft by 73 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.