# Accident 20090326046829A: Cessna 170B, Dillingham, AK, March 26, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 2009, 14:00 local time
- Place: Dillingham, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 58.9878° N, 158.6214° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.9878&lon=-158.6214&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2989D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2989D-2017-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 243 total, 194 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC09CA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA026) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090326046829A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 26, 2009, ABOUT 1400 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, A SKI-EQUIPPED CESSNA 170B AIRPLANE, N2989D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE FROZEN LAKE, ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DILLINGHAM, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF DILLINGHAM, ALASKA. THE TWO PEOPLE ABOARD, CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, THE PASSENGER, SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT SKI STRIP FIVE MILES SOUTHWEST OF DILLINGHAM AT ABOUT 1400. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH AN AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, ON MARCH 28, 2009, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO LOOK FOR GAME. HE SAID THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTHEAST WITH 20 DEGREES OF FLAP BUT ABORTED THAT TAKEOFF AND REVERSED DIRECTION AND TRIED TO DEPART TO THE SOUTH WITH FULL FLAPS SELECTED. THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE TREES BUT AFTER "LEVELING OUT SANK INTO THE TREES".  THE RIGHT WING CLIPPED THE TOP OF A TREE AND THEN HALFWAY UP OF THE NEXT TREE. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND EMPENNAGE. THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY IS THE DILLINGHAM AIRPORT, 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. AT 2230Z, AN AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATION SYSTEM WAS REPORTING, IN PART: WIND, 190 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS, VISIBILITY, 15 STATUTE MILES; FEW CLOUDS AT 3000 FEET SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 6500 FEET.

## 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 ANC09CA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA026), Mar 26, 2009: Cessna 170B (N2989D), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and his failure to attain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off…

## Other reports on N2989D (1)

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

- [Accident 19960908031339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908031339A), Sep 8, 1996: Cessna 170B (N2989D), Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over taxiing on gravel bar after 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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