Cessna 170B N37RA

Summary

On 5 July 1997 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N37RA was involved in an accident near Bend, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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.

Date

5 July 1997 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bend, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Sunriver (S21)

Coordinates

44.0705, -121.2509

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N37RA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Klamath Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA161

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to attain a proper climb rate. High density altitude and the pilot's failure to use all of the available runway were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the takeoff ground roll seemed somewhat long, however, after 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down the runway, the airplane lifted off. The airplane attained an altitude of about 50 feet and would then climb no higher. The pilot made a turn away from trees and continued to try and avoid obstacles. The airplane subsequently collided with trees about one mile southeast of the runway. The nose of the airplane dropped and the airplane collided with the terrain in a steep nose down attitude. Witnesses reported that the pilot began the takeoff roll at the 1,000 foot displaced threshold and used most of the runway before lifting off. The airport elevation is 4,159 feet. The runway is 5,500 feet long with a 1,000 foot displaced threshold. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated at 6,118 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.