# NTSB ANC09CA039: Cessna 170B, N3469C, Kenai, AK, May 12, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 11, 2009, 16:00 local (May 12, 2009, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.573333, -151.24472
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5733&lon=-151.2447&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage, FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73818
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73818/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73818
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA039

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was returning to the airport after a personal local flight made under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said while on final approach to land, he was advised by the tower of a flock of geese that took off from an adjacent waterway. During touchdown, he said a pilot waiting to takeoff reported sighting the geese, and his attention was diverted for a moment. In that moment he said the airplane started a turn to the right. He indicated he applied left rudder and power, but could not stop the turn. The pilot said the left main landing gear collapsed in the turn, and the left wing struck the ground. He noted there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box and the left wing during the accident.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot was returning to the airport after a personal local flight made under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said while on final approach to land, he was advised by the tower of a flock of geese that took off from an adjacent waterway. During touchdown, he said a pilot waiting to takeoff reported sighting the geese, and his attention was diverted for a moment. In that moment he said the airplane started a turn to the right. He indicated he applied left rudder and power, but could not stop the turn. The pilot said the left main landing gear collapsed in the turn, and the left wing struck the ground. He noted there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box, and the left wing during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3469C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3469C), registered now, S/N 26512, 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 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26512
- Airframe hours: 7726
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dale Paul D
- Registered owner: Dale Paul D
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 2009
- Departed: Kenai, AK
- Destination: PAEN, Kenai, AK
- Airport: PAEN, Kenai, runway 19R, 7,830 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,184 total, 460 in this make and model, 1,184 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Observed at: ATIS

## 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 20090511025179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090511025179A), May 11, 2009: Cessna 170B, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft landing runway 19R at Kenai muni (paen), at 1530 AKDT. Right wing came up then hit ground, left main gear collapsed and then acft came to a stop on…

## Other investigations on N3469C (2)

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 ANC14CA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA026), May 3, 2014: Cessna 170B (N3469C), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to recognize a wind shift, resulting in a tailwind landing, loss of control, and ground loop.
- [NTSB SEA74DTA09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DTA09), Sep 24, 1973: Cessna 170B (N3469C), Glasgow, MT, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73818. 686 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 686 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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