Cessna 170 accident near Coldfoot, Alaska, August 5, 1995
On August 5, 1995 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 170, registered N2566V, was destroyed in an accident near Coldfoot, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE AND/OR ALTITUDE FROM TERRAIN. RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND DOWNDRAFTS ASSOCIATED WITH UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1995 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Coldfoot, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2566V · no longer on the register · serial 18071
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE FLYING NORTHBOUND THROUGH A REMOTE MOUNTAIN PASS TOWARD RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN. THEY WERE FOLLOWING A ROADWAY THAT PARALLELED THE TRANS-ALASKAN PIPELINE. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY A STATE TROOPER AND A LOCAL RESIDENT THAT FLIGHT THROUGH THE PASS WAS NOT ADVISED. THEY SUGGESTED AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OVER THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS OBSERVED BURNING ADJACENT TO THE ROADWAY ABOUT 4,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE PASS WERE REPORTED AS ABOUT 1,000 FEET OVERCAST, 15 TO 20 KNOTS OF WIND FROM THE NORTH, WITH ISOLATED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA.
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: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CXF AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Happy Valley AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from AKP, 50 miles away
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.