# NTSB ERA25LA347: Cessna 170, N3576D, Eustis, ME, September 1, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2025, 17:30 UTC - Place: Eustis, ME · Crash on Flagstaff lake - Coordinates: 45.208884, -70.377349 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2089&lon=-70.3773&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA347 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent descent, contact with the water, and a subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the seaplane was departing from calm, glassy lake. During the takeoff, he leveled the airplane about 15 ft above the water in order to gain airspeed. The pilot then reached down to retract the airplane’s flaps and likely inadvertently applied forward pressure on the elevator control. The airplane then contacted the water and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3576D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3576D), registered now, S/N 27119, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (B) - 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: 27119 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 4804 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2025 - Destination: Fayette, ME - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 25, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,160 total, 327 in this make and model, 1,128 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: GNR, 38 nm away - METAR: METAR KGNR 011656Z AUTO VRB03KT 23/10 A3030 RMK AO1 SLP262 T02280100= ## 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 20250901012799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250901012799A), Sep 1, 2025: Cessna 170B, Stratton, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot stated after takeoff from glassy water conditions, a positive rate of climb was established and he began retracting manual flaps. When doing so the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201020. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19349645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19350600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19349730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20of%20loss%20N3576D_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19349834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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.