Cessna 170B accident near Weatherford, Texas, September 26, 1998
On September 26, 1998 at about 9:37 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3469D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weatherford, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1998 · about 9:37 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3469D · no longer on the register · serial 27012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a power line while maneuvering. A witness observed the airplane overflying the pilot's private airstrip from south to north at about the same level as the power lines, which were located approximately 300 yards north of the grass runway. As the airplane neared the wires, its nose pitched up without the pilot adding power. The airplane struck the southern top static wire and subsequently impacted the ground 179 feet north of the power lines. The witness reported that the engine sounded 'great.' According to local residents, the pilot would normally takeoff to the south and land to the north. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear tire had a straight-line abrasion across the tire tread extending around the inside edge of the tire. The left lower strut/axle had scrape marks on the leading edge from the brake hose clamp down to the wheel attachment bolts. The right main landing gear tire also had a straight-line abrasion across the tire tread extending around the outside edge of the tire. Continuity was established to all flight controls.
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: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,358 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 1998; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F56 Stamford TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FTW, 20 miles away
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.