# NTSB ANC96LA153: Cessna 170B, N2989D, Dillingham, AK, September 9, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1996, 20:30 local (Sep 9, 1996, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Dillingham, AK
- Coordinates: 58.820259, -157.859756 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8203&lon=-157.8598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2903
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2903/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA153

## Probable cause

the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxiing.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, taxi - from landing

## Analysis

The certificated private pilot was taxiing from landing in a tail-wheel equipped airplane. The landing area was a remote sand and gravel bar. While taxiing, the airplane encountered a soft spot in the sand and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the rudder and the right wing lift strut.

## Factual narrative

On September 8, 1996, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B, N2989D, crashed during taxi from landing on a remote gravel bar about 30 miles east of Dillingham, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Dillingham airport at 2000.

On September 15, 1996, at 1237, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was taxiing from landing and encountered a soft spot on the gravel bar.  The airplane nosed over and received damage to the rudder and the right wing lift strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2989D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2989D-2017-06-15), registration cancelled 2017-06-15, S/N 26932, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26932
- Airframe hours: 3165
- Engines: Continental C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Johnny D. Evans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 1996, 38 hours before
- Departed: DLG, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 19960908031339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908031339A), Sep 8, 1996: Cessna 170B, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over taxiing on gravel bar after landing.

## Other investigations on N2989D (1)

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.

- [NTSB ANC09CA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA026), Mar 26, 2009: Cessna 170B (N2989D), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and his failure to attain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off…

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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