# NTSB ANC93LA074: Cessna 170, N1260D, Soldotna, AK, May 31, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1993, 19:00 local (May 31, 1993, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.319869, -150.789062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3199&lon=-150.7891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2347/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA074 ## Probable cause THE INADEQUATE HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, HE ROCKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT TO LIFT HIS LEFT FLOAT OUT OF THE WATER AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. HE THEN ROCKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT TO LIFT HIS RIGHT FLOAT OUT OF THE WATER AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE PILOT WAS USING ZERO DEGREES OF FLAPS AND COULD NOT RECALL THE POSITION OF THE AILERONS AND RUDDERS. HE STRUCK THE SHORELINE AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ALL THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 1993, at 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N1260D, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, crashed into trees and the shoreline during takeoff from West Mackey Lake near Soldotna, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the lake for a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private certificated Pilot-in- Command, the sole occupant, was not injured. According to the Pilot-in-Command, he was making his takeoff run to the north and did not select any flaps. At 50 miles per hour, he rocked the airplane to the right and lifted his left float out of the water and then he rocked the airplane to the left to free the right float. When the right float left the water, the airplane began to turn to the right. Control inputs did not have any effect on the right turn and the airplane struck the shoreline, a tree, and nosed over on an embankment. An on-site examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical irregularities and control continuity was established between all flight controls. Examination of the aircraft logbooks showed that the last entry completed by the mechanic did not include the aircraft total time. The last total time entry was accomplished on June 23, 1989. Examination of the pilot's logbook showed that the entries made on the 23rd through 26th of May had been scratched out and the flight times increased. The actual flight times could not be substantiated. The Pilot-in-Command could not remember the position or how he used the aileron and rudder controls during the takeoff sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1260D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1260D-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N 19814, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19814 - Airframe hours: 3203 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Booth, Robert J. - Registered owner: Booth, Robert J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 1992, 81 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 25 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19930530015569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930530015569A), May 30, 1993: Cessna 170, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. Rocked wings to unstick floats on water takeoff. Veered to right. Struck shore and trees. Right float dug in. 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.