# NTSB WPR22LA289: Cessna 170B, N4493B, Fairbank's, AK, July 29, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 28, 2022, 18:17 local (Jul 29, 2022, 02:17 UTC) - Place: Fairbank's, AK · Fairbanks International Airport - Coordinates: 64.815354, -147.85665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8154&lon=-147.8567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA289 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff ground roll he did not apply enough right rudder input to compensate for the propellers asymmetric blade effect. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The right wing and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4493B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4493B), registered now, S/N 26837, 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: 26837 - Year built: 1955 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PAFA, Fairbanks International Airport, runway Ski 20, 2,900 × 75 ft, gravel - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 153 total, 47 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 1 nm away - METAR: PAFA 290153Z 00000KT 10SM BKN055 BKN150 BKN200 18/05 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01780050 ## 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 20220728013549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220728013549A), Jul 28, 2022: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped during takeoff roll from gravel ski strip 20. Student pilot certificate only with two passengers on board. Student pilot does not have a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105657. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14378513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR22LA289_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14277485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20damage-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.