Cessna 170 B accident near Arco, Idaho, July 28, 2007
On July 28, 2007 at about 7:15 am local time, a Cessna 170 B, registered N3446C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arco, Idaho (Off Airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. The crosswind condition was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2007 · about 7:15 am local time
- Place
- Arco, Idaho · Off Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 B · all 170 Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3446C · registry record · serial 26489
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he initiated the takeoff roll on runway 24, with the wind estimated to be from 315 degrees at 8-10 knots. After sufficient acceleration, the pilot moved the yoke forward in order to raise the tailwheel off the ground. As the tail began to rise, the aircraft immediately became airborne and "aggressively drifted" to the left. The pilot was unable to correct for the deviation, and flew towards the south, away from the runway heading. The aircraft then flew over a 10 foot deep depression in the ground and descended. At the end of the depression, where the terrain rose back up to ground level, the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence. The pilot was able to set the aircraft down in a small clearing past the fence, but due to a sloped area ahead, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to the right. The aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,144 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 985 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,351.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAOC Arco ID at 7:15 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.