Cessna 170 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, May 31, 1993
On May 31, 1993 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 170, registered N1260D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska. 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 INADEQUATE HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1993 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N1260D · no longer on the register · serial 19814
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, HE ROCKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT TO LIFT HIS LEFT FLOAT OUT OF THE WATER AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. HE THEN ROCKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT TO LIFT HIS RIGHT FLOAT OUT OF THE WATER AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE PILOT WAS USING ZERO DEGREES OF FLAPS AND COULD NOT RECALL THE POSITION OF THE AILERONS AND RUDDERS. HE STRUCK THE SHORELINE AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ALL THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,203 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1992; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.