Cessna 170 accident near Wasilla, AK
On May 4, 2007, a Cessna 170 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wasilla, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 4, 2007
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.637°N, 149.309°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070510X00548
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 4, 2007, about 1548 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N4217V, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during a forced landing after takeoff from the Wolf Lake Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. A witness reported that he saw the airplane depart on runway 19 at Wolf Lake. The airplane climbed to about 200 feet, and the witness heard the engine lose power. The pilot made a right turn toward the north, and descended toward a residential area adjacent to the airport. A ground witness reported that the propeller was not turning just prior to the crash. The airplane clipped the top of a large tree, about 300 feet from a residence, and collided with several additional trees before impacting the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating that was issued June 11, 2004. The most recent third-class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on July 1, 2003, and contained no limitations. The pilot began flight training on June 7, 2001, in a Cessna 150. He accrued about 33.2 hours in the Cessna 150 until October 12, 2001. The pilot began logging flight hours in the accident airplane on February 17, 2002. He accrued 105.
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb due to fuel contamination, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
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Browse: Alaska · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
