Cessna 172N accident near Anchorage, Alaska, March 20, 1995
On March 20, 1995 at about 5:36 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733RW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1995 · about 5:36 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733RW · registry record · serial 17268499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS TO A RUNWAY THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN CLEARED OF SNOW. THE SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS CREATED 3 TO 4 FOOT HIGH SNOWBERMS ALONG THE RUNWAY EDGES THAT REDUCED THE RUNWAY WIDTH ABOUT 25 PERCENT. FOLLOWING A LANDING, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ADDED RIGHT RUDDER INPUT; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BEGAN CONTACTING THE SNOWBERM ALONG THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED TO THE LEFT INTO THE SNOWBERM AND NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 51 HOURS OF TOTAL TIME WITH 15 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.
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: student
- Flight time: 52 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,122 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 1995; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,640 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:38 pm from MRI
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.
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.