Cessna 170B, N4380B: Accident occurred September 22, 2020 in Big Lake, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska 

https://registry.faa.gov/N4380B

Location: Big Lake, AK

Accident Number: ANC20LA099

Date & Time: September 22, 2020, 19:00 Local 

Registration: N4380B

Aircraft: Cessna 170B

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On September 22, 2020, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N4380B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The Cessna was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations CFR Part 91 flight.

According to the pilot, he was landing on a remote off-airport gravel bar located along a river. During short final, at about 20 ft above ground level (AGL), the airplane’s engine sputtered followed by a partial loss of power. The engine then surged briefly followed by a total loss of engine power as the propeller continued to windmill. Subsequently, the airplane touched down in the river short of the gravel bar and nosed over.

The pilot added that he had about 1.7 hours of fuel remaining in the airplane’s fuel tanks at the time of the accident.

The airplane was powered by a Franklin 6A-350-C2 engine and a detailed examination is pending.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 

Registration: N4380B

Model/Series: 170B

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: PAWS,354 ft msl

Observation Time:

Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C /3°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / 14 knots, 40°

Lowest Ceiling: 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 29.31 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: Anchorage , AK (MRL)

Destination: Big Lake, AK

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1

None Latitude,

Longitude: 61.587423,-150.3984 (est)