Cessna 170B accident near Durham, North Carolina, November 25, 2009
On November 25, 2009 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2758D, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Durham, North Carolina. 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 total loss of engine power in flight and a fire in the engine compartment for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2009 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Durham, North Carolina · 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
- N2758D · no longer on the register · serial 25300
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure the airplane’s engine began to run rough. The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to troubleshoot the problem before initiating a return to the departure airport. During the return, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the right side of the engine that got progressively worse before the engine lost total power. After realizing that he would not be able to make it to the airport, the pilot performed a forced landing in a pasture where the airplane was completely consumed by the postcrash fire with the exception of the tail section. The extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe precluded determination of the fire’s ignition source.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,204 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 16,596 as pilot in command; 1,758 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,861 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NC81 Apex NC at 5:35 pm
- Destination: CHO Charlottesville VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from RDU, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.