Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Thursday, March 26, 2009 14:10 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was taking off from a snow-covered area in a ski-equipped airplane for a personal local flight. The pilot said that he took off to the south, but that the snow conditions caused more drag than expected. He said that the airplane cleared the first part of the trees at the end of the takeoff area, but that the wing stalled and the right wing dropped. The airplane then clipped the top of the trees and descended, coming to rest on its right side. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he had packed down the takeoff area with a snow machine prior to taking off. He also reported that he aborted a takeoff to the northeast just before the accident takeoff to the south. In a written statement, the pilot reported the maximum gross weight of the airplane as 2200 pounds and its weight at the time of the takeoff as 2600 pounds.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and his failure to attain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off with the airplane over its maximum allowable gross weight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/26/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone --
Event City Dillingham
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99576
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 585916N
Event Location Longitude 1583717W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID PADL
Elevation of weather observation facility 81
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.31
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25496
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 22 2009 12:53AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2989D
NTSB Number ANC09CA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26932
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 3 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3486
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name FOX BRIAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City DILLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99576-0885
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name FOX BRIAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City DILLINGHAM
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99576-0885
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Dillingham
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Dillingham
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 22 2009 1:05AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --