# NTSB ANC12CA090: Cessna 170B, N4551C, Fairbanks, AK, August 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2012, 11:14 local (19:14 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.813056, -147.854721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8131&lon=-147.8547&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84748/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84748 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; 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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that during the landing roll, he looked down to turn off the carburetor heat. When he looked back up, he was on the left edge of the runway. He overcorrected with right rudder, ground looped, and departed the right side of the runway onto the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot stated that during the landing roll out, he looked down to turn off the carburetor heat. When he looked back up, he was on the left edge of the runway. He over corrected with right rudder, ground looped, and departed the right side of the runway onto the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4551C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4551C-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 25495, built 1952 (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: 25495 - Airframe hours: 2106 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2011 - Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: PAFA, Fairbanks International Airpor, runway 20, 2,900 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PAFA ## 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 20120817018069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120817018069A), Aug 17, 2012: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on fai ski strip 20. Pilot stated he landed on the right side of the runway and the right tire got caught in soft terrain and pulled rest of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84748. 754 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 754 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379644&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.