# NTSB ANC04LA008: Cessna 170B, N4448B, Manley Hot Sprg, AK, November 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 10, 2003, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Manley Hot Sprg, AK - Coordinates: 58.299457, -134.420135 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.2995&lon=-134.4201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58333/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was snow covered terrain at the landing strip. ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing on a private, snow-covered mining strip. During the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels broke through the snow crust, and the airplane nosed over, activating the airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The pilot indicated the airplane received damage to the propeller, wingtip, and rudder. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2003, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N4448B, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote airstrip, about 14.5 miles northeast of Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) 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. 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 November 12, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that he contacted the pilot via telephone in Oregon. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot said he was landing on a private, snow-covered mining strip. The pilot told the inspector that during the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels broke through the snow crust, and the airplane nosed over, activating the airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The pilot indicated the airplane received damage to the propeller, wingtip, and rudder. The closest official weather observation station is Tanana, Alaska, which is located 47 nautical miles west of the accident site. On 1252, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 260 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; 3,300 feet overcast; temperature, 27 degrees F; dew point, 18 degrees F; altimeter, 29.52 inHg. The NTSB's Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska, requested, but did not receive a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, (NTSB Form 6120.1) from the pilot. ## 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 - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4448B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4448B), registered now, S/N 26792, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - 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: 26792 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John T. Larson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Manley Hot Sprg, AK - Airport: Eureka Creek ## 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; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 238° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.52 inHg - Observed at: PATA, 47 nm away ## 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 20031110027849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031110027849A), Nov 10, 2003: Cessna 170B, Eureka Creek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] pilot stated that he landed with approx 3 inches of loose snow on runway over an ice crust. The aircraft broke through the ice and… ## Other investigations on N4448B (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 DEN99LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA134), Aug 4, 1999: Cessna 170B (N4448B), Casper, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of a wrong runway for landing and his failure to maintain directional control. 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.