Cessna 170B accident near Igiugig, Alaska, April 13, 2000
On April 13, 2000 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2790C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Igiugig, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather. Factors associated with the accident were the variable crosswind conditions, and the pilot's inadequate compensation for those wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2000 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Igiugig, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2790C · no longer on the register · serial 26334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated private pilot was attempting a southeasterly departure from an 800 feet long sand bar. He stated that the takeoff run required a correction for a strong left crosswind. During the takeoff run, as the airplane became airborne, a strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and over an area of soft snow. He said that when the wind decreased, the airplane's main wheels contacted the soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported wind conditions at the time of the accident to be from the east at 20 knots, with peak gusts to 40 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 991 hours in all; 915 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,059 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1999; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGG Igiugig AK at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.