# NTSB ANC14CA037: Cessna 170B, N3442D, Fairbanks, AK, June 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 4, 2014 - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.81472, -147.860549 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8147&lon=-147.8605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA037 ## Probable cause The airplane's encounter with a tailwind during takeoff from a short, narrow airstrip, which resulted in a loss of lift and collision with brush and small trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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) (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) - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was departing in his airplane from the downhill-sloping (east) runway at 9AK with a slight tailwind. He said that, as the airplane tried to become airborne, the tailwind increased considerably, and the airplane would not climb. The airplane struck brush that encroached the east end of the runway area and veered left into brush and small trees. He stated that no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane precluded normal operation. Damage included the separation of the right outboard elevator. Photographs of the airstrip provided by the pilot showed that 9AK was a short, narrow, rough-surfaced airstrip with brush growth encroachment. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he was departing in his airplane from the downhill-sloping (east) runway at 9AK with a slight tailwind. He said that, as the airplane tried to become airborne, the tailwind increased considerably, and the airplane would not climb. The airplane struck brush that encroached the east end of the runway area and veered left into brush and small trees. He stated that no mechanical failures or malfunction of the airplane precluded normal operation. Damage included the separation of the right outboard elevator. (Note: Photographs of the airstrip provided by the pilot showed that 9AK was a short, narrow, rough-surfaced airstrip with brush growth encroachment.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3442D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3442D), registered now, S/N 26985, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B (UNDESIGNAT) - 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: 26985 - Year built: 1955 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: 9AK, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 9AK, Totatlanika River, runway 07, 780 × 30 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FAI, 50 nm away ## 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 20140604009169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140604009169A), Jun 4, 2014: Cessna 170B, Totatlinika, AK, Substantial damage. First time operating from this airport located on a ridge top, in mountainous area at 2717'MLS. Airport slopes downward from west to east and experiences… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89370. 758 KB in all. - Record of Conversation with Pilot/Owner (item 1, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot%2FOwner-Master.PDF - Photos - Aircraft at Accident Site (Courtesy of Pilot/Owner) (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20Aircraft%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot%2FOwner)-Master.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.