Cessna 170-B N8177A
4 January 2014 · Nome, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 January 2014 at about 18:45 local time, a Cessna 170-B registered N8177A, operated by James West, was involved in an accident near Nome, Alaska, United States. 2 people were 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 18:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nome, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 64.7104, -164.6209
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170-B
- Registration
- N8177A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1952
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James West
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Flight Test
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Nome → Nome
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC14CA014
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately remove water-contaminated fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane was pulled out of the hangar and preflighted for a maintenance test flight, following an extensive annual inspection. Approximately 10 minutes after departure the airplane lost all engine power, and made an emergency landing on the sea ice. During the emergency landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. While inspecting the airplane after the accident, the pilot said he found water in the airplane's gascolator. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed water in the fuel system, including the carburetor bowl. The pilot indicated that other than the water in the fuel, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been avoided if the airplane had been placed on level ground after it was pulled from the hangar, thereby allowing the water to be drained from the fuel system.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 170 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 2014 | Cessna 170B | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Cessna 170B | Portland, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 2014 | Cessna 170B | Alzada, Montana, United States | Kovarik Peter M | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Mar 2014 | Cessna 170B | Mulberry, Florida, United States | Trembley Sharon L | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 2014 | Cessna 170A | Huron, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2014 | Cessna 170B | San Luis Obispo, California, United States | Burch Loren W | No injuries | - |
All 1,985 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2014 | Cessna U206C | Chitina, Alaska, United States | Copper Valley Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 2014 | Cessna U206B | Gustavus, Alaska, United States | Fjord Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 2014 | Airbus/Eurocopter AS 350 B3 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Can See Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 2014 | Piper PA 18A 150 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2014 | Craig C Walls SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 2014 | Cessna 185 | Gakona, Alaska, United States | Copper Valley Air Service LLC | No injuries | - |