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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2026 · about 9:20 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Bessemer, Alabama · Bessemer Ntl · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3184B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 170 2,085 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motor C145 SERIES 1,828 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bessemer Ntl Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alabama 1,211 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- Alabama 4,354 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA152.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.