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Accidents · NTSB ANC24LA042 · Final report

Cessna 170A accident near Willow, Alaska, June 1, 2024

On June 1, 2024 at about 3:00 am local time, a 1950 Cessna 170A, registered N5789C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Willow, Alaska (Willow Airport). 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 1, 2024 · about 3:00 am local time
Place
Willow, Alaska · Willow Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 170A, built 1950 · all 170As on the register
Registration
N5789C · registry record · serial 19743
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 he performed a normal, coordinated 3-point landing near the approach end of the runway and “fast taxied” with the tail airborne down the runway. As the airplane neared the taxiway, the pilot reduced the throttle and the tail touched down normally. The pilot applied the brakes, at which time the airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and brakes; however, the airplane ground-looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot reported he then taxied the airplane from the runway to a transient parking area with no issues. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel assembly and brakes found the steering arms bent and the rigging on the steering chains taut. Bent steering arms can contribute to a shimmy in the tailwheel, especially at high speeds. The pilot did not report feeling any shimmy during the landing roll and he was able to taxi the airplane following the accident without any control issues. No other mechanical failures/malfunctions were identified that would have resulted in the loss of directional control.

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

  1. Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 480 hours in all; 299 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 444 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: July 20, 2022
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 2024; 1 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O300D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 97AK Palmer AK at 2:35 am
  • Destination: PAUO Willow AK
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 31, 4,400 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: a few clouds
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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.

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.