# NTSB FTW94LA310: Cessna 170A, N5583C, Nikiski, AK, September 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1994, 17:00 local (Sep 25, 1994, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Location: 60.6903° N, 151.2889° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nikiski, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6903&lon=-151.2889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA310 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DESCENT RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE CHECK PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE ON A LOCAL PRACTICE CIVIL AIR PATROL FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXECUTE A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY 4,000 FOOT PRIVATE STRIP. AS HE TURNED FINAL, THE PILOT SAW THAT HE WAS HIGH AND SLIPPED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO ABOUT 400 FEET AGL. THE CHECK PILOT STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, HE FELT THAT THE PILOT WAS IN 'PERFECT' POSITION FOR LANDING ABOUT 200 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD AND THEN DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE APPROACH. THE PILOT SAID HE ENTERED A SECOND SLIP ON SHORT FINAL TO DISSIPATE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND 'LANDED SHORT OF RUNWAY.' THE CHECK PILOT SENSED THE SECOND SLIP, SAW THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW, AND CALLED FOR A GO-AROUND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN UP SLOPE 25 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1994, approximately 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N5583C, was destroyed during landing at a private strip near Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane, owned by the commercial pilot, was on a local civil air patrol check flight with an airline transport rated instructor pilot in the right seat. There was a company VFR flight plan in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both the check pilot and the commercial pilot/owner received minor injuries. According to information provided by the crew, they departed Kenai, Alaska, at about 1620 on a local area practice flight. After completing the air work, the commercial pilot decided to execute a practice forced landing at a nearby 4,000 foot private strip. He set up on a left downwind at 2,500 feet and cut the power. The check pilot stated that as the airplane turned final it was apparent to the pilot that he was high and he elected to slip the airplane down to about 400 feet AGL. When the pilot terminated the slip, it seemed to the check pilot that his altitude and airspeed were "perfect" for touchdown about 200 feet beyond the threshold. The check pilot then diverted his attention to other things outside the airplane. The pilot stated that on short final he entered a second slip to dissipate excessive airspeed and "landed short of runway." The check pilot said he sensed the second slip and he noticed that the airplane was low. He called for a go around immediately before impact. The airplane impacted an embankment that sloped up to the runway about 25 feet short of the threshold. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5583C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5583C-1994-11-03), registration cancelled 1994-11-03, S/N 19637 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19637 - Airframe hours: 4335 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gonzalez, Vincent - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 1993, 20 hours before - Departed: ENA, KENAI, AK - Destination: ENA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: NONE, Mcgahan'S Private Strip, runway 6, 4,000 × 200 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 895 total, 307 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19940924030659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940924030659A), Sep 24, 1994: Cessna 170A, Nikiski, AK, Destroyed. High on approach slipped to lose altitude twice. Got too low. Impacted upslope short of runway. Failed check flight ## Other investigations on N5583C (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC74FAA34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74FAA34), May 18, 1974: Cessna 170A (N5583C), North Pole, AK, substantial damage 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.