Cessna 170 accident near Whiskey Gulch, Alaska, November 7, 1991
On November 7, 1991 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N2584V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whiskey Gulch, Alaska. It was a personal 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 MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS OPERATING AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE IN WHICH TO EFFECT RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1991 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Whiskey Gulch, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2584V · no longer on the register · serial 18089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO SURVEY AN INTENDED LANDING AREA BY PERFORMING A LOW APPROACH. HE MADE HIS TURN FROM THE WATER TOWARD THE BEACH AT 200 ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE TURN THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DROP AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND AND POWER WAS APPLIED. THE PILOT ROLLED THE AIRPLANE WINGS LEVEL AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE WIND WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,820 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 245 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 886 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,297 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1991; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 4:45 pm
- Destination: HOM Homer AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2584V 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.