Cessna 170B accident near Denali Park, Alaska, June 25, 2025
On June 25, 2025 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1956 Cessna 170B, registered N2655D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Denali Park, Alaska (Backcountry Airstrip 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 failure of the left main landing gear spring due to a fatigue fracture during landing on uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2025 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Denali Park, Alaska · Backcountry Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1956 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2655D · registry record · serial 20807
- 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, during the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote airstrip, he encountered a depression in the landing surface, resulting in the separation of the left main wheel. The left main landing gear leg subsequently dug into the ground and folded back against the fuselage, which caused substantial damage to the fuselage near the main landing gear attach points. After exiting the airplane, the pilot observed that the left main gear leg had fractured above the axle bolts, and the tire, axle, and lower portion of the main landing gear spring had separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Photos of the fracture surfaces from the main landing gear spring were examined by the NTSB Materials Laboratory. The features observed were consistent with a fatigue fracture and corrosion. It is likely that a fatigue crack initiated due to corrosion damage at the fracture origin.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,366.9 hours in all; 478 in this make and model; 255 in the last 90 days; 80.6 in the last 30 days; 3,319 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,487.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 2025; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C2 (piston); 2,304 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5Z5 Kantishna AK at 11:30 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from AIN, 62 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAIN 250156Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR A2968 RMK AO2 SLPNO FZRANO TSNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of wings, fuselage, and empennage
Photograph 2 – Main landing gear spring to fuselage attach point
Photograph 3 – Fractured main landing gear spring attached to wheel axleThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 9, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Materials Lab Fracture Assessment | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.