# NTSB ANC00LA044: Cessna 170B, N2790C, Igiugig, AK, April 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Igiugig, AK - Coordinates: 58.750411, -156.539566 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7504&lon=-156.5396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 48957 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48957/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather. Factors associated with the accident were the variable crosswind conditions, and the pilot's inadequate compensation for those wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was attempting a southeasterly departure from an 800 feet long sand bar. He stated that the takeoff run required a correction for a strong left crosswind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and over an area of soft snow. He said that when the wind decreased, the airplane's main wheels contacted the soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported wind conditions at the time of the accident to be from the east at 20 knots, with peak gusts to 40 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2790C, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote site, about 15 miles northwest of Igiugig, Alaska, at latitude 59 degrees, 32 minutes north, and longitude 156 degrees, 10 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0800, at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 14, the pilot reported that he was attempting a southeasterly departure from an 800 feet long sand bar. He stated that the takeoff run required a correction for a strong left crosswind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and over an area of soft snow. He said that when the wind decreased, the airplane's main wheels contacted the soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported wind conditions at the time of the accident to be from the east at 20 knots, with peak gusts to 40 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2790C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2790C-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 26334, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26334 - Airframe hours: 4059 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B3R 160 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy R. Sharp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 1999, 85 hours before - Departed: IGG, IGIUGIG, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 991 total, 915 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 20 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000413042189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000413042189A), Apr 13, 2000: Cessna 170B, Igiugig, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff into a front quartering head wind (gusty winds) the pilot attempted twice to lift off, could not, ran out of runway ran into the deep snow… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.