# NTSB ANC05LA081: Cessna 170B, N2551D, Ninilchick, AK, June 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2005, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Ninilchick, AK - Coordinates: 60.275001, -152.483337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2750&lon=-152.4833&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 - Parties: FAA-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61668 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61668/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll on a beach, which resulted in an on-ground collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident is a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - sand bar ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing toward the south on a beach. He said that during the landing roll, a tailwind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left, and the outboard end of the left wing, and the outboard end of the left elevator, struck the ground. The air valve stem of the left main wheel tundra tire was sheered off, and the left main tire deflated. The pilot indicated that the airplane received damage to the leading edge of the left wing, the outboard portion of the wing spar, several wing skin panels, and the balance weight of the left elevator. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2005, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2551D, sustained substantial damage when the left wing struck the ground during the landing roll at a remote beach, about 31 miles west of Ninilchick, 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 private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1030. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 10, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the south on an area of beach at Polly Creek, located on the Alaska Peninsula. The pilot said that during the landing roll, a tailwind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left. The outboard end of the left wing, and the outboard end of the left elevator, struck the ground. The air valve stem of the left main wheel tundra tire was sheered off, and the left main tire deflated. The pilot indicated that the airplane received damage to the leading edge of the left wing, the outboard portion of the wing spar, several wing skin panels, and the balance weight of the left elevator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2551D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2551D), registered now, S/N 20703, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20703 - Airframe hours: 2921 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John S. Kelly - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 6 hours before - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Ninilchick, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 783 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °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 20050608014979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050608014979A), Jun 8, 2005: Cessna 170B, Ninilchick, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Flight from merrill field to polly creek on west side of cook inlet opposite of kenai. Landed to south on beach W/5-15 gusty tailwind in light steady… 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.