# NTSB ANC96LA104: Cessna 170B, N2813C, Tyonek, AK, July 18, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1996, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Coordinates: 61.07933, -151.160476 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0793&lon=-151.1605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA104

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot was landing his tailwheel airplane on a narrow gravel road.  During the landing roll, he lost directional control and the airplane swerved to the left and went off the roadway.

## Factual narrative

On July 18, 1996, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2813C, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located approximately 8 miles northwest of Tyonek, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger aboard, were not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1130, and operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 23, 1996, the pilot stated he was attempting to land the airplane on a narrow, gravel surfaced road that was formerly used to provide access to oil well drilling sites. The pilot said he lost directional control during the landing roll,  the airplane swerved to the left, went off the roadway, and subsequently damaged the right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2813C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2813C), registered now, S/N 26356, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170B
- 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: 26356
- Airframe hours: 2836
- Engines: Continental C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John C. Fray
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 1996, 16 hours before
- Departed: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,397 total, 117 in this make and model, 3,486 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °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 19960718019529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960718019529A), Jul 18, 1996: Cessna 170B, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. Swerved and damaged a wing landing on gravel road. Veered off runway. Damaged right wing.

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.

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