# NTSB ANC03LA068: Cessna 170B, N63DJ, Palmer, AK, July 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2003, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.471389, -148.735839 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4714&lon=-148.7358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57416/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance and altitude during an approach to land at an off-airport landing site, which resulted in an undershoot, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot reported he was attempting to land his tailwheel airplane on a river bar with a steep bank at the approach end. He said that after a prolonged power-off approach to the site, he applied power to flare the airplane and "make my landing spot." He indicated that the engine "hesitated or sputtered," momentarily, and he had to turn to miss the bank. The airplane subsequently descended into the river and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2003, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N63DJ, received substantial damage when it collided with terrain while on final approach to land at an off airport site, about 15 miles east-southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight departed a private airstrip near Chugiak, Alaska, at 1320. The accident pilot had a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator on July 6. The pilot related that he was on final approach to land on a river bar near the Knik River, when it became apparent that the airplane was too low. He said he applied engine power, but the engine did not respond immediately, and the airplane descended into a shallow area of the river. The airplane rolled a short distance on touchdown, and then nosed over, sustaining structural damage to the wings, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that he was attempting to land on a river bar with a cut bank. He did not indicate the engine had a mechanical problem, but noted that after a prolonged power-off approach to the landing site, as he applied power to flare and "to make the landing spot," the engine "hesitated or sputtered." He reported that when the engine sputtered, he turned left, to avoid striking the cut bank. The airplane subsequently descended into the river and nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63DJ-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 25505, 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 0-340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-340-series) (registry code 41510, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25505 - Airframe hours: 4088 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shawn M. Veech - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2002, 90 hours before - Departed: Chugiak, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 7,600 total, 400 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 20030706037279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706037279A), Jul 6, 2003: Cessna 170B, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was practicing take-offs and landings on off-airport areas. During an approach to a gravel bar, he realized that the aircraft was low so he… 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.