# NTSB ANC99LA032: Cessna 170B, N4387B, Palmer, AK, March 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1999, 20:00 local (Mar 13, 1999, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620983, -148.979431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6210&lon=-148.9794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and his failure to refuel the airplane that resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Analysis The certificated private pilot departed from the frozen surface of a small lake after previously conducting touch and go landings earlier in the day. The airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the ground when the engine suddenly quit. The pilot made a turn back toward the lake and landed along the edge of the lake. The airplane touched down in an area of snow, and the main landing gear was sheared off. The right wing hit a snow bank and was damaged. The pilot reported he returned to the airplane the day after the accident to begin disassembly for transportation. The pilot said he discovered the airplane fuel tanks were empty. He then recalled his last flight before the accident was about 2 months before the accident, and he did not refuel the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1999, about 2000 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N4387B, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after takeoff from a frozen lake, about 5 miles north-northeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 13, 1999, at 0900, the pilot reported he landed on Wolverine Lake earlier in the day, following about 30 minutes of touch and go landings at the Palmer Municipal Airport. The pilot said he took off and climbed the airplane to about 100 feet when the engine suddenly quit. He made a turn toward the lake, and landed along the edge of the lake. The airplane touched down in an area of snow, and the main landing gear was sheared off. The right wing hit a snow bank and was damaged. On March 16, 1999, the pilot telephoned the NTSB IIC, and reported he returned to the airplane on March 13, 1999, to begin disassembly for transportation. The pilot said he discovered the airplane fuel tanks were empty. He then recalled his last flight before the accident was about 2 months ago, and he did not refuel the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4387B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4387B), registered now, S/N 26731, 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: 26731 - Airframe hours: 3297 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David R. Laseter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1998, 27 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 287 total, 265 in this make and model, 216 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19990312026129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990312026129A), Mar 12, 1999: Cessna 170B, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The certificated private pilot departed from the frozen surface of a small lake after previously conducting touch and go landings earlier in the day. The… 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.