Cessna 170 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, April 27, 2005
On April 27, 2005 at about 1:25 am local time, a Cessna 170, registered N2981D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign while taxiing from landing, which resulted in an on ground collision with the sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2005 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2981D · registry record · serial 26924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that after landing, while exiting the active runway, he inadvertently taxied over a runway/taxiway identification sign that was located adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- ON GROUND/WATER COLLISION WITH OBJECT during taxi - from landing
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, none, none, none
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,250.9 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, March 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: SOV Seldovia AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°C, dew point 36°C
- Altimeter: 30.299999 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC05CA069.