Cessna 170 accident near Kenai, Alaska, April 21, 1992
On April 21, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 170, registered N3970V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai airport). 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 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE MODIFIED AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai · 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
- N3970V · registry record · serial 18289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FIRST THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE PILOT INCREASED POWER SLIGHTLY AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN THE SECOND TIME, IT VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE, HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT AND GROUND LOOPED. DURING THE TURNING MOTION, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY BEEN OUTFITTED WITH NEW CESSNA 180 MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRINGS AND TIRES, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, MADE IT HARDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDINGS.
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: 222 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 192 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,478 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1991; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 7,575 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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.
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.