Cessna 170B accident near Gulkana, Alaska, June 15, 1995
On June 15, 1995 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N4512C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulkana, Alaska (Gulkana airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1995 · about 8:15 pm local time · cases in 1995
- Place
- Gulkana, Alaska · Gulkana · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4512C · no longer on the register · serial 25456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 14. THE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. UPON LANDING THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER RIGHT. AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED IT DRAGGED ITS LEFT WING ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED SHE HAS NO IDEA WHY THE AIRPLANE 'GROUND LOOPED.'
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: 778 hours in all; 687 in this make and model; 741 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,476 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 1:45 pm
- Destination: GKN AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N4512C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4512C: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 170 2,085 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-300 6,625 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Gulkana Airport · nearest airport
- Merrill Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4512C 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC95LA076.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.