# NTSB ANC02LA096: Cessna 170, N2558D, Soldotna, AK, August 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2002, 20:00 local (Aug 15, 2002, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.476112, -151.032501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4761&lon=-151.0325&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55516/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's excessive braking which resulted in a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was conducting touch and go landings to an asphalt surfaced runway. The pilot said the airplane touched down hard and bounced, and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane then nosed over, receiving damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The wind was calm. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2002, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N2558D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following a loss of control while landing at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport about 1930. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 14, the pilot reported that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 25. He said the airplane touched down hard and bounced, and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane then nosed over, receiving damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. At 1955, an automated weather observation system (AWOS) at Soldotna was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 64 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.36 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2558D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2558D), registered now, S/N 20710, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20710 - Airframe hours: 3005 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Spence - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2001, 9 hours before - Departed: PASX, SOLDOTNA, AK - Airport: PASX, Soldotna, runway 25, 5,000 × 130 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 26, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 151 total, 1 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: PASX ## 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 20020814024569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020814024569A), Aug 14, 2002: Cessna 170B, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he was landing N2558D, a wheel equipped Cessna 170 airplane for the first time. Pilot said that he flared the airplane late, the… ## Other investigations on N2558D (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 ANC79DAG44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAG44), Apr 28, 1979: Cessna 170B (N2558D), Manokotak, AK, substantial damage 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.