Cessna 170A accident near Nikiski, Alaska, September 25, 1994
On September 25, 1994 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N5583C, was destroyed in an accident near Nikiski, Alaska (Mcgahan'S Private Strip airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DESCENT RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE CHECK PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1994 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Nikiski, Alaska · Mcgahan'S Private Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N5583C · no longer on the register · serial 19637
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE ON A LOCAL PRACTICE CIVIL AIR PATROL FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXECUTE A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY 4,000 FOOT PRIVATE STRIP. AS HE TURNED FINAL, THE PILOT SAW THAT HE WAS HIGH AND SLIPPED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO ABOUT 400 FEET AGL. THE CHECK PILOT STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, HE FELT THAT THE PILOT WAS IN 'PERFECT' POSITION FOR LANDING ABOUT 200 FEET BEYOND THE THRESHOLD AND THEN DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE APPROACH. THE PILOT SAID HE ENTERED A SECOND SLIP ON SHORT FINAL TO DISSIPATE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND 'LANDED SHORT OF RUNWAY.' THE CHECK PILOT SENSED THE SECOND SLIP, SAW THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW, AND CALLED FOR A GO-AROUND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN UP SLOPE 25 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 895 hours in all; 307 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 895 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 7:20 pm
- Destination: ENA AK
- Runway 6, 4,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.