CESSNA 172
Anchorage, AK — September 1, 2016
Event Information
| Date | September 1, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA487 |
| Event ID | 20160914X32900 |
| Location | Anchorage, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 61.21305, -149.84000 |
| Airport | MERRILL FIELD |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The airplane’s encounter with a developing sink hole during taxi on the ramp area.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor reported that during taxi the airplane started to lean to the right, so he looked out of his window to see if the right tire was flat. He further reported that "the ramp was opening up into a 2 foot wide dark black hole" underneath the right main landing gear. The flight instructor and student pilot egressed from the airplane without further incident.
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the empennage.
The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration showed that the right main landing gear had broken through the pavement into a sink hole underneath.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.