# Accident 20010829022629A: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, August 29, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2001, 14:30 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.2628° N, 147.4997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.2628&lon=-147.4997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4669C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4669C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-340 series (registry code 41510, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010829022629A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON AUGUST 29, 2001, ABOUT 1430 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE-EQUIPPED CESSNA 170B AIRPLANE, N4669C, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AREA, ABOUT 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT, AND THE SOLE PASSENGER, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ON AUGUST 30TH, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING TOWARD THE NORTH FROM A SMALL BENCH AREA THAT IS ABOUT 460 FEET LONG, AND 40 FEET WIDE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD UTILIZED THE AREA FOR LANDING IN THE PAST. THE TERRAIN BELOW THE BENCH HAD SEVERAL TREES, AND THEN AN OPEN AREA OF TALL GRASS. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, BUT THEN SEEMED TO "MUSH" DOWNWARD. HE LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE BUT THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT THEN PULLED THE ENGINE POWER OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE AREA OF GRASS. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT WAS DISPLACED AFT FROM ITS ATTACH POINT AT THE FUSELAGE. THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION IS FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, WHICH IS LOCATED 35 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ON AUGUST 29TH, AT 1353, AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR) WAS REPORTING IN PART: WIND, 090 DEGREES (TRUE) AT 6 KNOTS; VISIBILITY, 10 STATUTE MILES; CLOUDS AND SKY CONDITION, FEW AT 6,000 FEET, 10,000 FEET SCATTERED, 18,000 FEET SCATTERED; TEMPERATURE, 68 DEGREES F; DEW POINT, 42 DEGREES F; ALTIMETER, 29.51 IN HG. (-23) THE LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE WHILE DEPARTING A SMALL (460') AIRSTRIP RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE FAIRBANKS FSDO BY CELL PHONE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE BY THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

## 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 ANC01LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA128), Aug 29, 2001: Cessna 170B (N4669C), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the initial climb after takeoff, and subsequent in-flight collision with a tree.

## Other reports on N4669C (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20060227002269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060227002269I), Feb 27, 2006: Cessna 170B (N4669C), Circle Hot Spri, AK, Minor damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] pilot statement: I was preparing to taxi down the taxiway at Circle Hot Springs strip, while warming up the engine, the ski's…
- [Accident 20020516009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020516009259A), May 16, 2002: Cessna 170B (N4669C), North Pole, AK, No damage. (-23) The nut on the right gear leg attachment bolt fractured down the side of the nut allowing the gear to come loose and cause the pilot to run off the left…

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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