- Date
- May 16, 2009, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Nenana, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6946CCessna 170B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090516047029A
- Case key
- 73856
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 was the pilot’s excessive taxi speed.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on Runway 04L in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that after completing a series of touch-and-go landings, he inadvertently landed long, and elected to roll to the end of the runway, then back-taxi on Runway 04L before departing. The pilot reported that while back-taxiing at high speed, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and he applied full engine power in an attempt to take off. He said that just after takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left and the left wing stalled. The left wing and left main landing gear wheel struck an area of grass-covered terrain and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. At the time of the accident an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at the airport was reporting wind condition as variable at 4 knots. The pilot indicated in his written report to the NTSB the wind was from 070 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 11 knots, and that he should have taxied slower.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on Runway 04L in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. He said that after completing a series of touch-and-go landings, he inadvertently landed long, and elected to roll to the end of the runway, then back-taxi on Runway 04L before departing. The pilot reported that while back-taxiing at high speed, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane, and he applied full engine power in an attempt to takeoff. He said that just after takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left, and the left wing stalled. The left wing and left main landing gear wheel struck an area of grass covered terrain, and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. At the time of the accident an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at the airport was reporting wind condition as variable at 4 knots. The pilot indicated in his written report to the NTSB the wind was from 070 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 11 knots, and that he should have taxied slower.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6946C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25522
- Airframe hours
- 5,170
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chad A. Rowe
- Registered owner
- Smith Linda J
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 7, 2009 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- Fairbanks, AK
- Destination
- ENN · Nenana, AK
- Airport
- ENN · Nenana Municipal Airport, runway 04L, 4,600 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 738 total · 64 in this make and model · 681 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- ENN
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 694 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6946C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.