Cessna 170B N39781

Summary

On 17 April 1996 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N39781 was involved in an accident near Chicken, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 April 1996 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chicken, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.0704, -142.0090

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N39781

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

ANC96LA052

Nobody was injured.

The first pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a tree. Factors in the accident were the first pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and soft snow conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot (first pilot), occupying the left seat, and a certificated airline transport pilot/flight instructor (second pilot), occupying the right seat, were departing a remote airstrip that was a 1,400 feet long area of compacted snow. The surface of the snow was soft and rough. By mutual agreement, the first pilot agreed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The second pilot agreed to manipulate the flaps to shorten the airplane's takeoff roll. During the takeoff roll, both pilots were focused in front of the airplane, and the left wing struck a tree, damaging the wing spar. The second pilot reported that the wind was from the east about 10 knots. The temperature was about 40 degrees F and the takeoff area sloped uphill about 1.5 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.