Cessna 170B accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 17, 1996
On June 17, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2848C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Chena Hot Springs 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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and the failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor in the accident was an airstrip that was rough and uneven.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Chena Hot Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2848C · registry record · serial 26391
- 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 a 2,000-foot long private airstrip. A witness reported that the airplane landed on the last 1/3 of the runway. From the initial touchdown point, the airplane rolled 140 feet, and then heavy braking/skid marks were noted on the runway. The airplane traveled another 460 feet to the point of rest off the left side of the runway. The pilot indicated that during the landing roll, he encountered rough runway conditions which remained from recent maintenance. When the airplane was on a smoother and harder surface, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear was folded aft at the gear leg attach point to the fuselage. The airplane also received damage to the inboard end of the right wing aft spar and right wing tip. The airport/facility directory states that the turf/gravel runway surface is muddy and washed, 6 to 12 inches deep, and is not maintained.
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: 105 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1995; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI AK at 1:30 pm
- Destination: AK13
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from EIL, 36 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.