Cessna 170B accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, March 28, 1999
On March 28, 1999 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3200A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska. 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 failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner. Factors associated with the accident were a tailwind, the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and the pilot's premature liftoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1999 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · 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
- N3200A · no longer on the register · serial 25844
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was attempting a takeoff with his wheel-ski equipped airplane from an airstrip 1,200 feet long, packed with snow. He said the airplane became airborne about midfield, but settled onto the runway. He elected to continue the takeoff, and again became airborne near the end of the runway. He said he did not have sufficient altitude to clear the trees at the end of the runway, and stalled the airplane onto the end of the runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, and collided with a tree. The pilot related that he thought the wind was light and variable prior to takeoff, but thinks he may have encountered a tailwind during the takeoff roll. He said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.
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: 525 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 479 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,919 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1998; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PAQ Palmer AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 1,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.