Cessna 170 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, April 3, 2023
On April 3, 2023, a 1955 Cessna 170, registered N4464B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 maintained directional control and the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a loss of control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2023
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Wasilla Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170, built 1955 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N4464B · registry record · serial 26808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he was providing flight instruction to the pilot who had recently purchased the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and during takeoff, a crosswind pushed the airplane to the left. He attempted to correct for the left drift to no avail. Subsequently, the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,121 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,063 as pilot in command; 1,152 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 26, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 25, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,703 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2023; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 3,719 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PAWS
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 030056Z AUTO 15006KT 10SM FEW047 03/M08 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP190 T00281083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4464B 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.