Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 170 near Rampart, AK — 2021-07-11

Final reportANC21LA059
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Date
2021-07-11
Location
Rampart, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 170
Registration
N2583C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he conducted an off-airport landing after the engine began to run rough; however, he stated to responding law enforcement that he was “testing the surface to see if it was suitable for landing” when the main landing gear contacted high vegetation and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and a test run of the engine on the airframe revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have chosen a more suitable landing area instead of testing the surface.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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