# NTSB ANC00LA054: Cessna 170B, N992EZ, Delta Junction, AK, May 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2000, 18:40 local (May 8, 2000, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 63.700954, -144.889587 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7010&lon=-144.8896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50957 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50957/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA054 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The solo private pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 600 feet above the ground, the engine RPM suddenly dropped to idle. Emergency engine procedures did not restore full engine power, and he selected a forced landing area that contained trees. The airplane sustained damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA airworthiness inspector who traveled to the accident scene reported that when he inserted a probe into the muffler, he noted 'there was something loose within the muffler.' The muffler assembly was subsequently removed from the airplane, and shipped to the NTSB investigator-in-charge. On May 15, the muffler assembly was cut open in the presence of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. An internal inspection revealed extensive thermal destruction of the internal baffling material. The baffling material that remained in the muffler measured about 4 inches by 3 inches. By placing the remaining material in various position over the exhaust port, the NTSB investigator was unable to position it in such a way that a blockage would occur. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2000, about 1840 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N992EZ, sustained substantial damage after colliding with tree-covered terrain, about 6 miles north of Delta Junction, Alaska, at latitude 63 degrees, 59 minutes north, and longitude 145 degrees, 30 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 solo certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Valdez Airport, Valdez, Alaska, about 1645. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 8, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 600 feet above the ground, the engine RPM suddenly dropped to idle. He said that emergency engine procedures did not restore full engine power, and he selected a forced landing area that contained trees. The airplane collided with the trees, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), traveled to the accident scene on May 8. He reported that the airplane came to rest on the lower portion of the engine cowling. He said that after the airplane was lifted off of the engine cowling, he was able to gain access to the outlet port of the exhaust muffler. He said that when he inserted a probe into the muffler, he noted "there was something loose within the muffler." The muffler assembly was subsequently removed from the airplane, and shipped to the NTSB investigator-in-charge. On May 15, the muffler assembly was cut open in the presence of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. An internal inspection revealed extensive thermal destruction of the internal baffling material. The baffling material that remained in the muffler measured about 4 inches by 3 inches. By placing the remaining material in various position over the exhaust port, the NTSB investigator was unable to position it in such a way that a blockage would occur. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992EZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N992EZ), registered now, S/N 25905, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25905 - Airframe hours: 3245 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas M. Fulton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2000, 5 hours before - Departed: VDZ, VALDEZ, AK - Destination: D66, DELTA JUNCTION, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,055 total, 287 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command, 1,888 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 191° at 11 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20000507005089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000507005089A), May 7, 2000: Cessna 170B, Delta Junction, AK, No damage. (-23) May 8, 2000 Mr. Fulton was flying from valdez, Alaska, to Delta Junction, Alaska. Arriving at Delta Junction, he flew around his house and on roll-out… 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.