# NTSB ANC21LA059: Cessna 170, N2583C, Rampart, AK, July 11, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 11, 2021, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Rampart, AK - Coordinates: 65.413046, -150.04006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.4130&lon=-150.0401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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 he conducted an off-airport landing after the engine began to run rough; however, he stated to responding law enforcement that he was “testing the surface to see if it was suitable for landing” when the main landing gear contacted high vegetation and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and a test run of the engine on the airframe revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2021, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2583C, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Rampart, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot initially reported that, while enroute over mountainous terrain, the engine began to “run rough.” He looked for an emergency landing area, observed a “flat” spot, and maneuvered for landing. During landing, the main landing gear touched down and the terrain “immediately sucked [the airplane] in.” The pilot classified the terrain as very soft and full of moss and bumps. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Responding law enforcement reported that the airplane was found upside down on top of a mountain in an area of knee-high clumps of grass. There were parallel tire marks leading up to the airplane for approximately 120-150 yards and disturbed vegetation where the tires made hard contact just before the airplane flipped. The pilot reported he had damaged his airplane while attempting to land and stated that “he was testing the surface to see if it was suitable for landing.” Postaccident examination of the airplane and a test run of the engine on the airframe revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2583C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2583C), registered now, S/N 26227 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (B) - 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: 26227 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 2143.5 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2020 - Departed: BTT, Bettles, AK - Destination: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 145.7 total, 94.1 in this make and model, 104.5 as pilot in command, 32.3 in the last 90 days, 22.6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: PATA, 54 nm away - METAR: PATA 111952Z 14004KT 10SM OVC120 17/11 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP124 T01670106 $ ## 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 20210711010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210711010619A), Jul 11, 2021: Cessna 170B, Rampart, AK, Substantial damage. On 07/11/2021 at 1319 hours the Alaska state troopers in fairbanks were contacted by the iercc who passed on information About an in-reach activation… ## Other investigations on N2583C (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC13CA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA086), Aug 27, 2013: Cessna 170B (N2583C), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in a ground loop. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103514. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12676783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot roc (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12676813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12676803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2583C%20Post%20Accident%20Run-up%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine run / work order (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12677435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Work_Order_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Alaska department of public safety report (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12681774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AK21077842%20Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12676793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Rel.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.