Cessna 170A accident near Iliamna, Alaska, August 24, 1997
On August 24, 1997 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9540A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska (Pedro Bay 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a ground swerve and overload failure of the right main landing gear. Factors related to the accident were: the crosswind, and sudden windshift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1997 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · Pedro Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9540A · registry record · serial 19101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing to the west from a remote airport in a tail-wheel equipped airplane. He reported that initially, there was a left quartering wind (about 25 degrees left of the runway heading) at about 25 knots. During the takeoff roll, the pilot held the airplane on the ground for about 1,100 feet and attained an airspeed of 70 MPH. He indicated the airplane suddenly veered off the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. After the accident, the pilot noticed the wind was blowing from the north at an estimated velocity of 25 knots. The Facility Directory for the airport included a caution for strong winds, severe turbulence, and possible wind shear.
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: 832 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 832 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1997; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK04 at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.