# NTSB ANC98LA028: Cessna 170B, N3179B, Dillingham, AK, March 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 1998, 17:18 local (21:18 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.820377, -157.860046 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8204&lon=-157.8600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3121/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's decision to relinquish controls to the student pilot in the left seat during practice landings, and the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. A factor contributing to this accident was the pilot-in-command's lack of certification as a flight instructor. ## 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 - relinquishing of control - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot-in-command held a private pilot certificate and was seated in the right seat. He did not hold a flight instructor certificate. The airplane's co-owner was a student pilot and was seated in the left seat. During the second touch-and-go landing, with the pilot-in-command allowing the student pilot to manipulate the flight controls, the airplane bounced and ground looped to the right. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane nosed down. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 1998, at 1718 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 170B tailwheel equipped airplane, N3179B, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was co-owned and operated by the two occupants, both of Dillingham. The private certificated pilot, and student pilot at the controls, were uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight to conduct touch and go landings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Dillingham at 1700. The student pilot at the controls stated during an interview with the NTSB investigator that there was a five to seven knot crosswind from the right. He had his first solo one week prior to the accident. He had accrued 25 hours of total flight time, with 15 hours in this airplane. He was manipulating the flight controls from the left seat, with the private pilot observing from the right seat. The private pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate. On the second touch-and-go landing, the airplane bounced and ground looped to the right. The left wingtip dragged the ground, and the airplane nosed down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3179B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3179B), registered now, S/N 25421, built 1952 (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: 170-25421 - Airframe hours: 4641 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David J. Powers - Registered owner: Shaen C. Tarter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1997, 136 hours before - Airport: DLG, Dillingham, runway 19, 6,404 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 220 total, 90 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DLG ## 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 19980321007309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980321007309A), Mar 21, 1998: Cessna 170B, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Student bounced landing. Lost control. Ground looped. Co owner private pilot in right seat. (.4)the pilot-in-command held a private pilot certificate and was… 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.