Cessna 170 N1387D

Summary

On 12 January 2017 at about 20:50 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N1387D was involved in an accident near Hayden, Alabama, 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

12 January 2017 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hayden, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.8469, -86.8989

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N1387D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1951

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hayden → Hayden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17CA087

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern to the turf runway. The private pilot recalled that the airplane was 800 ft above ground level (agl) and aligned with the runway, but he had no further recollection of the flight. A witness observed the airplane flying "low and slow" about 20 ft agl when the nose pitched upward, the airplane "stalled," and the left wing struck the ground. The airport owner stated that the trees at the approach end of the runway were damaged, and broken branches were found scattered at the base of the trees immediately after the accident. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage consistent with collision with trees and terrain. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.