# NTSB ANC98LA050: Cessna 170B, N2235D, Russian Mission, AK, June 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1998, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Russian Mission, AK - Coordinates: 61.810516, -161.440917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8105&lon=-161.4409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3139 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3139/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while landing. A factor associated with the accident was the presence of a tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose down, landing ## Analysis The solo pilot was landing at a remote gravel airstrip. The pilot stated that prior to landing he had received a pilot report indicating that there was a slight breeze, favoring a landing to the east. He looked at the airstrip windsock, noted that it was hanging limp, and prepared to land to the west. He said that while landing to the west, and just after touchdown, a gust of wind from behind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left. The airplane veered to the right, and went off the right side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch that borders the runway. He said that his decision to land to the west was based on a more favorable approach, and it would eliminate the need to back taxi. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1998, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2235D, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip at Kako, Alaska, located about 5 miles north of Russian Mission, Alaska. The solo private pilot/owner was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident airstrip about 1030, and was returning from Holly Cross, Alaska. The pilot reported in his written statement to the NTSB that prior to landing he received a pilot report indicating that there was a slight breeze, favoring a landing to the east. The pilot looked at the airstrip windsock, noted that it was hanging limp, and prepared to land to the west. He stated that while landing to the west, and just after touchdown, a gust of wind from behind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left. The airplane veered to the right, and the pilot said he applied left rudder and left brake in an attempt to keep the airplane aligned with the runway. He said he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane went off the right side of the runway. The airplane came to rest in a ditch that borders the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage. The pilot noted in his written statement that his decision to land to the west was based on a more favorable approach, and it would eliminate the need to back taxi. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2235D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2235D), registered now, S/N 20387 (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: 20387 - Airframe hours: 4163 - Engines: Continental O-300-B 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William J. Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1997, 37 hours before - Departed: 4Z4, HOLY CROSS, AK - Airport: Kako, runway 27, 2,500 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1 total, 35 in this make and model, 99 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °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 19980604012469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980604012469A), Jun 4, 1998: Cessna 170B, Russian Mission, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Veered off runway into a ditch. Blamed wind gust. (.4)the solo private pilot was landing at a remote, gravel airstrip in a… 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.