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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 3, 1993 · Cessna 170B · N2384D

Wulik River, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 3, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Wulik River, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 170B
Tail Number
N2384D
Operator
Anderson Thomas M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC93LA168

THE PILOT SAID WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A MOUNTAIN RIDGE, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ENTERED A DEPRESSION AND HE HAD TO USE HARDER THAN NORMAL CONTROL FORCES TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE ALIGNED WITH THE TAKEOFF PATH. WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME OUT OF THE DEPRESSION, IT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND BECAUSE OF THE LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND, IT CAME BACK DOWN ON THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AND THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE THEN SPUN AROUND CLOCKWISE ABOUT 180 DEGREES AND HIT ON THE NOSE, THEN THE LEFT WING. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR BOXES WERE TORN OUT OF THE FUSELAGE, WHICH WAS ALSO DAMAGED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.

Full Narrative

On September 2, 1993, at 2230 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N2384D, lost control and dragged a wing while attempting to takeoff from a mountain ridge near the Wulik River, approximately 80 miles northwest of Kotzebue, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was destined for another remote landing area located about 1 mile away from the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. When the pilot was contacted by telephone on September 7, 1993, he stated the following, in part: "During the takeoff roll, the left main wheel got into a depression and I had to use harder than normal control forces to keep the airplane aligned with the takeoff path. When the airplane came out of the depression, it bounced into the air and because of the left quartering headwind, it came back down on the right main wheel and the right wing. The airplane then spun around clockwise about 180 degrees and hit on the nose, then the left wing. Both main landing gear boxes were torn out of the fuselage, which was also damaged." The pilot's statement on the accident report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) varies considerably from his telephone statement on September 7, 1993.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 170B
Tail NumberN2384D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAnderson Thomas M
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 20 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data