Cessna 170B accident near Bessemer, Alabama, March 27, 2026
On March 27, 2026 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 1953 Cessna 170B, registered N3184B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bessemer, Alabama (Bessemer Ntl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2026 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bessemer, Alabama · Bessemer Ntl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1953 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3184B · registry record · serial 25426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was operating in the airport traffic pattern. After completing a low approach to estimate the wind conditions, the pilot elected to land on the opposite direction runway due to a wind shift. The pilot planned to perform a three-point, full-stall landing, and during the landing flare the stall warning horn sounded. During the landing, the tailwheel contacted the runway, followed by the main landing gear, after which the airplane began heading to the left. The pilot attempted to apply corrective control inputs with the rudder, but the airplane did not respond as he expected. The airplane subsequently contacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 504 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 341 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 2025; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 3,484 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,007 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from EKY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEKY 272056Z AUTO 33006KT SCT055 BKN070 27/17 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP161 T02670167 56015 PWINO RVRNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA152.