- Date
- March 8, 1997, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Willow, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N1364DCessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19970308002609A
- Case key
- 2969
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's excessive speed while taxiing. A factor in the accident was flat light conditions.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger were departing a frozen lake in the ski-equipped airplane. The pilot reported he was taxiing at an excessive speed. Due to flat lighting conditions, the pilot did not see a frozen snow berm. The right landing gear ski crested the berm and then struck a second snow berm. The right main landing gear was torn from the airplane fuselage.
Factual narrative
On March 8, 1997, about 1545 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Cessna 170A, N1364D, crashed while taxiing for takeoff from a frozen lake about 17 miles west of Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), Kenai, Alaska, received notification of the accident from the pilot. The pilot indicated the airplane received damage to the landing gear and landing gearbox.
In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he indicated he was taxiing to takeoff at an excessive speed. Due to flat lighting conditions, the pilot did not see a frozen snow berm. The right landing gear ski crested the berm and then struck a second snow berm. The right main landing gear was torn from the airplane fuselage.
The closest official weather observation station is Wasilla, Alaska, which is located 17 nautical miles east of the accident site. On March 8, 1997, at 1553, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 060 degrees (true) at 3 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds, 2,700 feet scattered, 4,200 feet broken, 5,000 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 19 degrees F; altimeter, 29.61 inHg.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1364D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19940
- Airframe hours
- 2,054
- Engine
- Continental C145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul M. Spiro
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1997 · 5 hours before
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 335 total · 289 in this make and model · 252 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAW, 17 nm away
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 N1364D · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.