Cessna 170B accident near Dillingham, Alaska, March 26, 2009
On March 26, 2009 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2989D, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Dillingham, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2009 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2989D · registry record · serial 26932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 238 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,486 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dillingham AK at 5:10 pm
- Destination: Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from PADL, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N2989D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.