# NTSB ANC08CA020: Cessna 170B, N170BP, Nikolai, AK, November 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 18, 2007, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Nikolai, AK - Coordinates: 63.0186111111111, -154.358611111111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0186&lon=-154.3586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather (icing conditions), which resulted in a loss of engine power during a go-around. Factors contributing to the accident were icing conditions, and carburetor/induction icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - ram/induction air - ice (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. He reported that he received a special VFR clearance at the departure airport, and as soon as he cleared class E airspace, the airplane started to accumulate rime ice on the wings' leading edges and windshield. He reported that three-quarters of the way to his destination the windshield was suddenly covered with rime ice, and that his destination was the closest airport. At the destination airport, he said the visibility was one-half to one mile in fog and freezing drizzle. On short final he reported that visibility was deteriorating, and he elected to go-around. He said the throttle did not respond, the engine lost power, and the airplane descended into trees. The pilot attributed the engine losing power to a combination of carburetor and induction icing. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said during the accident the airplane received damage to the right wing and lift-strut, right aileron, and right elevator. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the National Transportation Safety Board. ## Factual narrative The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. He reported that he received a special VFR clearance at the departure airport, and as soon as he cleared class E airspace, the airplane started to accumulate rime ice on the wings' leading edges and windshield. He reported that three-quarters of the way to his destination the windshield was suddenly covered with rime ice, and that his destination was the closest airport. At the destination airport, he said the visibility was one-half to one mile in fog and freezing drizzle. On short final he reported that visibility was deteriorating, and he elected to go-around. He said the throttle did not respond, the engine quit, and the airplane descended into trees. The pilot attributed the engine quitting to a combination of carburetor and induction icing. The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said during the accident the airplane received damage to the right wing and lift-strut, right aileron, and right elevator. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the National Transportation Safety Board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N170BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N170BP-2020-06-02), registration cancelled 2020-06-02, S/N 26299, built 1954 (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: 26299 - Airframe hours: 3901 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Anselment - Registered owner: Barney A. Anselment - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007 - Departed: PAMC, Mcgrath, AK - Destination: PAFS, Nikolai, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,605 total, 302 in this make and model, 1,430 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 563 ft overcast - Temperature: -6 °F, dew point -13 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg ## 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 20071118828429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071118828429A), Nov 18, 2007: Cessna 170B, Nikolai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) N170BP departed mcgrath enroute to Nikolai on a special VFR clearance. Enroute the pilot encountered freezing drizzle which accumulated on the… 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.