# Accident 19980905022779A: Cessna 170B, Port Alsworth, AK, September 5, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Port Alsworth, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.1997° N, 154.2803° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1997&lon=-154.2803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4368M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4368M-2000-08-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: CONT O300A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 150 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980905022779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1998, ABOUT 1500 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 170B AIRPLANE, N4368M, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING AT AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF PORT ALSWORTH, ALASKA. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A STUDENT SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM NIKISKI, ALASKA ABOUT 1130, FOR PORT ALSWORTH. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS LEFT WITH A RELATIVE. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 9, THAT DURING THE FLIGHT HE ENCOUNTERED REPEATED EPISODES OF CARBURETOR ICING, WHICH CLEARED UP WITH APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT. HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A RIDGETOP GRAVEL STRIP TO INSPECT THE AIRPLANE'SCARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL. THE PILOT REPORTED WINDS TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. DURING TAXI AFTER LANDING, HE APPLIED BRAKES AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. FUEL RAN OUT OF THE FUEL TANK VENTS ONTO THE ENGINE, AND THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. (.4) THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF CARBURETOR ICE, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A RIDGETOP GRAVEL OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE TO INSPECT THE ENGINE. THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. AFTER LANDING, THE TIRES HIT A RUT, HE APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED UP. HE INDICATED THAT FUEL RAN OUT OF THE TANK VENT, LOCATED JUST ABOVE THE WINDSCREEN, AND DOWN OVER THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER WAS CONSUMED IN THE FIRE, AND HE WAS RESCUED THE FOLLOWING DAY. (-23) ON 09/05/98 CRAIG DOMINICK DEPARTED NIKISKI FOR A SOLO FLIGHT FOR A CROSS COUNTRY TO PORT ALSWORTH AND ILLIAMNA AND RETURN. WHILE FLYING PAST PORT ALSWORTH, ABOUT 50 MILES OFF COURSE THERE WAS AN UNSCHEDULED STOP ON A HILLTOP FOR CARB ICING. ON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND BURNED AFTER TIPPING UP ON ITS NOSE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED. ALL AIRCRAFT LOGS AND PERSONAL PAPERS WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA142), Sep 5, 1998: Cessna 170B (N4368M), Port Alsworth, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: The solo student pilot's excessive application of brakes during taxi from landing. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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