Cessna 170B N6073V

Summary

On 25 August 2009 at about 17:56 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N6073V, operated by Carl W. Fundeen, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 August 2009 at 17:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Hood Airstrip (Z41)

Coordinates

61.1869, -149.9544

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N6073V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Carl W. Fundeen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Wasilla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09LA088

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s decision to make an abrupt and steep low altitude turn just after takeoff, while attempting to return to his departure airport, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s engine access cowling was properly latched before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was departing on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal flight. Witnesses reported that shortly after it became airborne, the right engine access cowling opened, and the airplane began a steep left turn back to the airport. As the airplane’s left bank increased, it descended nose first into tundra-covered terrain. The pilot said he could not specifically recall latching the cowling after preflighting the airplane, and that he should have climbed the airplane higher before returning to the airport. Examination of the airplane did not disclose any preimpact mechanical malfunction. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane's engine or flight controls, in conjunction with the witness and the pilot’s statement, it is likely the pilot failed to properly latch the engine access cowling before takeoff, then failed to adequately maintain control of the airplane while returning to the airport after the cowling opened.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.