- Date
- August 15, 2024, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Healy, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2524DCessna 170B
- 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
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240815012709A
- Case key
- 194950
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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, in gusty wind conditions, resulting in a loss of control and a collision with trees.
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 stated that during takeoff from an unimproved airstrip, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, she encountered a gust of wind just as the tail lifted off the ground. The airplane veered left and impacted trees and came to rest amongst the vegetation. Both wings, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2524D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20676
- Built
- 1952
- Airframe hours
- 2,282
- Engine
- Continental C-145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2024
- Destination
- 9AK7 · Big Lake, AK
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 17, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 133 total · 23 in this make and model · 56 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- AIN, 9 nm away
- METAR
- PAIN 152256Z AUTO 18010G27KT 140V200 10SM FEW060 17/03 A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 20027/2248 SLP171 T01670033
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 12.5 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.