Cessna 170B accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 1:33 am local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N1737D, was destroyed in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT ENTERED A LOW ALTITUDE STALL/MUSH DURING AN AIRDROP MANEUVER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW PASS MANEUVER, AND THE IMPROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 1:33 am local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1737D · no longer on the register · serial 20180
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A LOW LEVEL PASS TO DROP NEWSPAPERS TO A HUNTING CAMP. WITNESSES SAW A LEFT BANKING TURN AFTER THE PASS AND HEARD AIRCRAFT IMPACT THE TUNDRA, OUT OF SIGHT FROM THE CAMP. PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO OF THE WRECKAGE SHOW A STEEP NOSE DOWN CRUSH PATTERN, LEFT WING DAMAGE. GROUND SCARS SUPPORT A STEEP NOSE DOWN IMPACT AT LOW SPEED. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE RESTS NORMALLY ON UNDAMAGED CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS. WITNESSES RECALLED THE ENGINE 'SOUNDED NORMAL, AT LOW POWER' AT THE TIME OF THE AIR DROP.
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: student
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.