- Date
- May 6, 1996, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3193BCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960506012869A
- Case key
- 2840
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 control of the airplane during takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during takeoff he applied two notches of flap because the first notch did not work. As he was climbing out, the airplane began to settle and he applied full flaps. The airplane struck the tops of the trees and crashed to the ground. The pilot had surrendered his student pilot certificate, which did not have any endorsements for solo flight or operations in tailwheel airplanes, three weeks prior to the accident flight.
Factual narrative
On May 6, 1996, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N3193B, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed after takeoff from a private airstrip located near the Valley Baptist School in Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the airstrip and the destination was Lake Creek, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The non certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was destroyed by postimpact fire.
During a telephone conversation with the FAA Flight Standards District Office Inspector, who interviewed the pilot, he stated that the pilot had voluntarily surrendered his student pilot certificate on April 19, 1996. There were no endorsements for solo flight or for operations in tailwheel airplanes.
The FAA Inspector stated the pilot indicated he had 750 pounds of groceries on board the airplane. He was transporting the groceries to the store at Lake Creek, whose owners were reimbursing him for the cost of his fuel. The pilot stated he used 2 notches of flap for takeoff because the first notch of flaps did not work. After lift-off he encountered turbulence and the airplane began to settle. He applied the third notch of flaps, the full flap position, and the airplane continued to descend. The airplane crashed in the driveway of a nearby home.
According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot indicated that there is a 150 foot high hill off the end of the airstrip and left of the centerline. As he was climbing out and downwind of the hill, he felt the airplane start to settle. At this point the pilot stated he applied full flaps. After the accident he noticed "dust devils" swirling around the parking ramp at the departure end of the airstrip.
The pilot stated there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane during the takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3193B
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25436
- Airframe hours
- 4,088
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary Leeds
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 18, 1996 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- AK
- Destination
- Lake Creek, AK
- Airport
- Private Owned Airstrip, runway 27, 1,600 × 100 ft, dirt
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
- 39
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 6 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
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 N3193B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.