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| Date: | Friday 16 March 1990 |
| Time: | 21:00 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna 170B |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N4659C |
| MSN: | 25603 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1953 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Sulatna Cross, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Mcgrath, AK (MCG) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A FROZEN LAKE AT DUSK. LOOSE SNOW ON THE SURFACE OF THE LAKE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF DISTANCE. THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRPLANE'S HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK A TREE, AND THAT HE MADE AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD WAITED FOR BETTER LIGHTING CONDITIONS, OR IF HE WOULD HAVE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
Probable Cause: THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS THE EXISTING SNOW CONDITIONS AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN (PREFLIGHT PLANNING) PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES AND THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ANC90LA043
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 June 2001 | N4659C | Private | 0 | Sand Point, AK | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Mar-2024 12:45 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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