Cessna 170B N4590C

Summary

On 23 July 2010 at about 04:00 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N4590C, operated by Akers David W, was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2010 at 04:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.6178, -148.5550

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N4590C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Akers David W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palmer → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC10LA065

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass over a remote airstrip toward rising terrain in weather conducive to downdrafts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was maneuvering the airplane following a creek and observed an airstrip below. He decided he would make a practice approach to the airstrip, with no intention of landing. On the second approach, upon reaching the threshold of the landing area, he initiated a climb. After flying the length of the airstrip, the airplane started to descend. The pilot opined that the airplane had entered a downdraft and in response applied full engine power. The airplane continued to descend and collided with rising terrain near the end of the airstrip. The airplane sustained structural damage to its wings and fuselage. The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted only on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot and passenger were missing for 2 days and a search was initiated. They were able to walk to a trail, despite serious injuries, where a group of all terrain vehicle riders assisted them.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.