- Date
- September 13, 2020, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kiana, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3068ACessna 170
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration CMO
- FAA report
- 20200913012449A
- Case key
- 101974
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 improper decision to perform a takeoff from an unsuitable surface, which resulted in a loss of control and nose over.
Findings · 3
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 pilot reported that before landing at the remote, gravel-covered site, he intended to momentarily touchdown to determine the landing surface suitability, a maneuver commonly known as dragging the landing site. He said that after touchdown the main landing gear wheels encountered an area of rough and water covered-terrain, which slowed the airplane’s ground roll, so he applied takeoff power to go-around. The pilot said that the airplane became airborne, but it remained in ground effect, and he was unable to climb. The airplane subsequently settled back onto the site, and the right main wheel touched down atop a shallow stream that was situated next to the remote site. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right and nosed over. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3068A
- Reported as
- Cessna 170 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25712
- Built
- 1953
- Airframe hours
- 5,712
- Engine
- Continental C145-2H, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 3, 2019 · 75 hours before
- Destination
- PAIK · Kiana, AK
- Equipment
- ADS-B
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
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 15, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 90 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Observed at
- PAIK, 18 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.8 MB 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 N3068A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.