Cessna 170B accident near Kenai, Alaska, May 12, 2009
On May 12, 2009, a Cessna 170B, registered N3469C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2009
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3469C · registry record · serial 26512
- 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 returning to the airport after a personal local flight made under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said while on final approach to land, he was advised by the tower of a flock of geese that took off from an adjacent waterway. During touchdown, he said a pilot waiting to takeoff reported sighting the geese, and his attention was diverted for a moment. In that moment he said the airplane started a turn to the right. He indicated he applied left rudder and power, but could not stop the turn. The pilot said the left main landing gear collapsed in the turn, and the left wing struck the ground. He noted there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear box and the left wing during the accident.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,184 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,184 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 11, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kenai AK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PAEN Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 7,830 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from ATIS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N3469C 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.