Cessna 170B N8016A

Summary

On 18 August 2003 at about 17:15 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N8016A was involved in an accident near Sparrevohn, 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

18 August 2003 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.8105, -161.4393

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N8016A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sparrevohn → Port Alsworth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03CA097

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind, which resulted in collapse of the left main landing gear during the takeoff roll. A factor was the crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the takeoff area was 2,100 feet long, oriented east/west, and consisted of "firm tundra with some rougher areas near the mid point." Additionally, the takeoff area had a dogleg requiring "a right hand directional correction of about 15 feet" near the midpoint. The pilot reported that he planned to takeoff heading east, and the wind was from the south at 5 to 7 mph. He further reported that the airplane accelerated normally, and as it neared the midpoint of the takeoff area, it "wanted to drift to the left." The pilot added right rudder to make the dogleg turn and to counteract the drift. At this point, the pilot heard a loud "pop" from the fuselage and aborted the takeoff. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet and came to a stop. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by the "use of more right aileron and less rudder to correct for right-hand crosswind."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.