Cessna 170A N5789C

Summary

On 1 June 2024 at about 03:00 local time, a Cessna 170A registered N5789C was involved in an accident near Willow, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

1 June 2024 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Willow, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Airport (PAUO)

Coordinates

61.7544, -150.0515

Aircraft

Cessna 170A

Registration

N5789C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1950

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palmer → Willow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC24LA042

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he performed a normal, coordinated 3-point landing near the approach end of the runway and “fast taxied” with the tail airborne down the runway. As the airplane neared the taxiway, the pilot reduced the throttle and the tail touched down normally. The pilot applied the brakes, at which time the airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and brakes; however, the airplane ground-looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot reported he then taxied the airplane from the runway to a transient parking area with no issues. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel assembly and brakes found the steering arms bent and the rigging on the steering chains taut. Bent steering arms can contribute to a shimmy in the tailwheel, especially at high speeds. The pilot did not report feeling any shimmy during the landing roll and he was able to taxi the airplane following the accident without any control issues. No other mechanical failures/malfunctions were identified that would have resulted in the loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.