Cessna 170B accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 21, 2015
On January 21, 2015 at about 8:42 pm local time, a 1952 Cessna 170B, registered N2580D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2015 · about 8:42 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1952 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2580D · registry record · serial 20732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, after he released the brakes and applied full power, the airplane began to veer left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake in an effort to correct the veer, but the airplane continued to veer left. The airplane then struck a runway edge light and departed the runway into the snow-covered median between the runway and an adjacent taxiway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical anomalies.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 307.6 hours in all; 207.8 in this make and model; 18.5 in the last 90 days; 230.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK
- Destination: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.34 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N2580D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ANC15LA008.