# NTSB ANC88LA140: Cessna 170B, N170LA, Hope, AK, September 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1988, 18:40 local (Sep 16, 1988, 02:40 UTC)
- Place: Hope, AK
- Coordinates: 60.839653, -149.400604 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8397&lon=-149.4006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5081/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA140

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ARPT WAS LOCATED IN AN AREA BETWEEN 2 MTNS. IT HAD TWO WINDSOCKS; ONE WAS AT RWY LEVEL; THE OTHER WAS ABOVE THE TREETOP LEVEL. THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE LOWER WINDSOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FAVORING RWY 16, BUT WAS SHIFTING ABOUT 45 DEG TO EITHER SIDE OF THE RWY HEADING; THE OTHER WINDSOCK WAS INDICATING A LEFT CROSSWIND. AS THE ACFT WAS ABOUT TO TAKEOFF, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCTRD & THE RIGHT WING RAISED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT VEERED LEFT & THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N170LA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26685
- Airframe hours: 4065
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hugh F. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1988, 43 hours before
- Departed: 5HO
- Destination: KENAI, AK
- Airport: 5HO, Hope, runway 16, 2,000 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,745 total, 43 in this make and model, 12,191 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F

## 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 19880915041359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880915041359A), Sep 15, 1988: Cessna 170B, Hope, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control on takeoff due to severe gusty variable winds. Aircraft veered into a tree.

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.