# NTSB ANC11CA002: Cessna 170B, N2792C, Minto Flats, AK, October 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 2, 2010, 18:00 local (Oct 3, 2010, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Minto Flats, AK - Coordinates: 65.148056, -149.368606 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.1481&lon=-149.3686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77479/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77479 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, resulting in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from a remote site the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered soft terrain and nosed down. He stated that the accident takeoff was his third attempt to depart the site, and that during the attempt he realized the runway was not long enough and reduced the engine power to idle. The airplane's main landing gear tires sank into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed down, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing assembly. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from a remote site, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered soft terrain and nosed down. He stated that the accident takeoff was his third attempt to depart the site, and that during the attempt he "ran out of room and retarded the throttle." The airplane's main landing gear tires sank into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed down,sustaining substantial damage to the right wing assembly. The pilot noted that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane during the accident scenario. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, when the accident occurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2792C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2792C), registered now, S/N 26336, 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: 26336 - Airframe hours: 3103 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Berg Timothy J - Registered owner: Berg Timothy J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2010, 38 hours before - Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Minto Flats, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,235 total, 1,480 in this make and model, 1,756 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °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 20101002054269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101002054269A), Oct 2, 2010: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Aborted take off from soft strip, when aircraft lost lift, it sunk into mud causing rapid deceleration forcing aircraft onto nose. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77479. 676 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338151&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. --- 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.