# NTSB ANC01LA127: Cessna 170A, N9791A, Chickaloon, AK, August 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2001, 20:00 local (Aug 29, 2001, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.808334, -147.833328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8083&lon=-147.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53134/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. Factors in the accident were the presence of trees at the end of the departure path, and the pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing his private airstrip on runway 24. The airstrip is 2,200 feet long, and is located at 1,875 feet msl. In a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, the pilot said he added full engine power, and pushed the carburetor heat control off when he began the takeoff run. The airplane lifted off to about 20 feet agl near the departure end of the runway. The pilot said the airplane did not seem to be climbing and he aborted the takeoff by closing the engine throttle and intentionally stalling the airplane into trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. The pilot said the weather conditions at the time of the accident were broken clouds about 6,000 feet; unlimited visibility; temperature about 62 degrees F; and light wind from 240 degrees. In the narrative portion of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report submitted by the pilot, the pilot said the "carburetor heat control was out (heat was on)." ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2001, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170A airplane, N9791A, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip, about 17 miles east-northeast of Chickaloon, 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 commercial certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured; the remaining passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 29, the pilot reported he was departing his airstrip on runway 24 to transport his passengers to Anchorage, Alaska. The airstrip is 2,200 feet long by 70 feet wide, and is located at 1,875 feet msl on a 060/240 degree magnetic orientation. The pilot said he added full engine power, and pushed the carburetor heat control off when he began the takeoff run. The airplane lifted off to about 20 feet agl near the departure end of the runway. The pilot said the airplane did not seem to be climbing and he aborted the takeoff by closing the engine throttle and intentionally stalling the airplane into trees at the departure end of the runway. The rear seat passenger received a fractured wrist. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. In the narrative portion of the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot on September 10, 2001, the pilot stated, in part: "...took runway 24 and applied full power. Carb heat was out (heat was on)." The pilot said the weather conditions at the time of the accident were broken clouds about 6,000 feet; unlimited visibility; temperature about 62 degrees F; and light wind from 240 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9791A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9791A-2006-07-10), registration cancelled 2006-07-10, S/N 19252, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19252 - Airframe hours: 4521 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry E. Farrar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2001, 63 hours before - Departed: CHICKALOON, AK - Destination: PANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: Farrar'S Airstrip, runway 24, 2,200 × 70 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; last flight review June 4, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °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 20010829036459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010829036459A), Aug 29, 2001: Cessna 170A, AK, No damage. (-23) Aircraft sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip. Airstrip is 2200 feet long 70 feet wide and is located at 1875… 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.