# NTSB ANC07CA043: Cessna 170, N3412D, Anchorage, AK, June 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2007, 16:00 local (Jun 11, 2007, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 60.691387, -150.174438 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6914&lon=-150.1744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65958/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while landing, and his selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree and an on-ground encounter with brush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was delivering fuel under Title 14, CFR Part 91, to an airplane that made an emergency landing at an off airport site. The disabled airplane was blocking a major portion of the landing area. The accident pilot decided to land long, past the disabled airplane. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot wrote that during final approach, about 15-20 feet above the overgrown landing site, the airplane struck a tree with the left wing. He said the airplane touched down hard, and spun to the left, coming to rest with the right wing in high brush. He wrote that flying over the landing area, or asking more questions of the pilot on the ground prior to landing, would have been prudent. The right wing leading edge, aileron, elevator, and the left leading edge were damaged during the accident. According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The commercial certificated pilot was delivering fuel under Title 14, CFR Part 91, to an airplane that made an emergency landing at an off airport site. The disabled airplane was blocking a major portion of the landing area. The accident pilot decided to land long, past the disabled airplane. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot wrote that during final approach, about 15-20 feet above the overgrown landing site, the airplane struck a tree with the left wing. He said the airplane touched down hard, and spun to the left, coming to rest with the right wing in high brush. He wrote that flying over the landing area, or asking more questions of the pilot on the ground prior to landing, would have been prudent. The right wing leading edge, aileron, elevator, and the left leading edge were damaged during the accident. According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3412D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3412D), registered now, S/N 26955, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26955 - Airframe hours: 2597 - Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter Parks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006 - Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Destination: Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,965 total, 600 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 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 20070610009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070610009939A), Jun 10, 2007: Cessna 170, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On approach to the north gasline airstrip, the left wing of the aircraft came into contact with trees located to the west of the runway. This contact… 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.