Cessna 170B accident near Cordova, Alaska, July 2, 1991
On July 2, 1991 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2765D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cordova, Alaska (Merle K. Smith Memorial 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 THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND THE INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP BY THE PILOT. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1991 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Cordova, Alaska · Merle K. Smith Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2765D · no longer on the register · serial 25307
- 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 HE ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND THAT CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO BE BLOWN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. HE THEN INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A POND OF WATER. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR THEN COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO HIT THE GROUND.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 344 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,849 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1990; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CYXY White Horse
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:38 pm from CDV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.