# NTSB ANC05CA114: Cessna 170B, N6946C, Fairbanks, AK, August 1, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2005, 16:00 local (Aug 1, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.815277, -147.856384 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8153&lon=-147.8564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62119/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions, which resulted is a loss of directional control during landing. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported he was practicing wheel landings. He stated that on the accident landing, the airplane bounced, and a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The right wing struck the ground, followed by the propeller and the left wing. Both wings sustained structural damage. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2005, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N6946C, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a written statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dated August 3, the pilot reported that he was practicing wheel landings at the airport when the airplane "bounced," and a gust of wind lifted the left wing. He wrote the right wing "hit the pavement, followed by the prop and left wing." The airplane sustained structural damage to both wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6946C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6946C), registered now, S/N 25522, 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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25522 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James P. Orr - Registered owner: Linda J. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 198 total, 78 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots, gusting 15 ## 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 20050731017429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050731017429A), Jul 31, 2005: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] while attempting a wheel landing in a crosswind from the left, the pilot lost lateral control, striking the right wing on the… ## Other investigations on N6946C (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 ANC09CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA045), May 16, 2009: Cessna 170B (N6946C), Nenana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control while taxiing for takeoff, and his failure to attain/maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident… 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.