Cessna 170A accident near Lime Village, Alaska, April 7, 2021
On April 7, 2021 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 170A, registered N1291D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Lime Village, Alaska. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lime Village, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A, built 1951 · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1291D · no longer on the register · serial 19867
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing off-airport on snow-covered terrain, in flat light conditions, the terrain was “rougher” than he expected. Subsequently, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a “bump”, the right ski penetrated the surface of the snow, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 608.7 hours in all; 531.1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 22, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,180.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 2020
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Big Lake AK
- Destination: Stoney River AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from PASV, 22 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PASV 071755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -SHSN OVC026 M08/M10 A3004 RMK AO2 SHSNB1626 SLP210 P0000 60000 T10831097 11079 21089 57020
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Additional Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.