Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 170B N3132B

23 May 1989 · Birchwood, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 23 May 1989 at about 00:02 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N3132B was involved in an accident near Birchwood, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 00:02
Classification
Accident
Location
Birchwood, Alaska, United States
Nearest airport
Birchwood (Z15)
Coordinates
61.4101, -149.1706
Aircraft
Cessna 170B
Registration
N3132B
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC89FA076

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER DETENT FOR TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/MUDDY TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT STATED HE MADE AN ENG RUN-UP WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION, THEN HE MOVED THE SELECTOR TO USE THE RIGHT TANK FOR TAKEOFF. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED APRX 200 TO 300 FT AGL, THEN THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SWAMP/MUD FLAT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE, DURING THE EMERGENCY RESTART PROCEDURE, HE FELT THE SELECTOR GO INTO THE RIGHT DETENT POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 170 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
24 Apr 1989 Cessna 170
N4409V
Orwell, Ohio, United States Paul Hatala No injuries -
6 May 1989 Cessna 170B
N4074V
Kalskag, Alaska, United States Kenny Morgan No injuries -
10 Jun 1989 Cessna 170B
N3100B
Sarasota, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Carlton, Thomas M. Fatal 2
24 Jul 1989 Cessna 170B
N8388A
Bricktown, New Jersey, United States
no coordinates
Frank E. Brice No injuries -
19 Apr 1989 Cessna 170A
N5414C
Kalispell, Montana, United States Westphal, Terry R. No injuries -
5 May 1989 Cessna 170B
N3475D
Deming, New Mexico, United States
no coordinates
Robert S. Irvin Minor injuries -

All 1,985 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Mar 1989 Piper PA-32
N4257T
Kasigluk, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
9 Mar 1989 Cessna 185E
N70122
Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
16 Mar 1989 Aeronca 15AC
N4433N
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
25 Mar 1989 Cessna 180-A
N9685B
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
12 Apr 1989 Cessna 185
N9850X
Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
17 Apr 1989 Cessna 152
N6479L
Kenai, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States