Cessna 172 accident near Cantwell, Alaska, April 13, 1991
On April 13, 1991 at about 4:15 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3031U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cantwell, Alaska (Cantwell 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1991 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Cantwell, Alaska · Cantwell · 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
- N3031U · registry record · serial 17250631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE PALMER FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ON ANY NOTAMS FOR THE CANTWELL AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION SPECIALIST CALLED FOR A COLLECTIVE REPORT WHICH AUTOMATICALLY DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY NOTAM INFORMATION. THE FLIGHT SERVICE SPECIALIST STATED THERE WERE NO NOTAMS SHOWING ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN, HOWEVER, SHE CAUTIONED THE PILOT ABOUT THE POOR CONDITIONS OF RUNWAYS DURING 'BREAKUP' AND SHE READ THE CAUTION LISTED IN THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT UNDER AIRPORT REMARKS. THE PILOT LANDED AT CANTWELL AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN MAINTAINED FOR THE USE OF SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANES.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3031U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC91LA053.