# NTSB ANC03LA105: Cessna 170, N1293D, Seward, AK, August 30, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2003, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Seward, AK
- Coordinates: 59.908332, -147.5
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9083&lon=-147.5000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll.  A factor contribuiting to the accident was the presence of soft sand.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane on the beach of a remote island.  The pilot reported that he landed to the southwest, and during the landing roll, the tires encountered soft sand.  The airplane nosed over about 350 to 400 feet after touchdown, and received structural damage to the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 2003, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N1293D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll on a beach on Montague Island, about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Girdwood Airport, Girdwood, Alaska, about 1200.  No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 2, the pilot reported that he was landing on the beach at Patton Bay on the east side of Montague Island. He said he landed to the southwest, and during the landing roll, the tires encountered soft sand.  The airplane nosed over about 350 to 400 feet after touchdown, and received structural damage to the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1293D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1293D), registered now, S/N 19869, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170
- 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: 19869
- Airframe hours: 3800
- Engines: Continental A-300 145 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marcus F. Wisdorf
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2003, 70 hours before
- Departed: AQY, GIRDWOOD, AK
- Destination: SEWARD, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 18, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,100 total, 330 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 20030830036949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030830036949A), Aug 30, 2003: Cessna 170A, Montague Island, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed on Montague Island, AK within 1 1/2 hours of high tide. The landing surface was a dry sandy beach. Approximately 400 feet into the roll…

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.

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