Cessna 170B, N2746D: Accident occurred July 01, 2021 near North Pole, 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; Fairbanks, Alaska

https://registry.faa.gov/N2746D

Location: North Pole, AK

Accident Number: ANC21LA056

Date & Time: July 1, 2021, 15:00 Local

Registration: N2746D

Aircraft: Cessna 170B 

Injuries: 4 Serious

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 1, 2021, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N2746D, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near North Pole, Alaska. The pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A witness reported that, she observed the airplane takeoff and climb to an altitude of about 100 ft above the trees on the departure end of the runway. The airplane then made a sharp left turn, the left wing impacted a tree, and the airplane descended into terrain. She added that the airplane sounded normal throughout the entire takeoff and accident sequence with no unusual sounds, and the engine appeared to be operating. She further added that the airplane’s nose never dropped during the left turn.

The airplane came to rest upright in a wooded area off the departure end of the runway with the nose of the airplane pointed back toward the runway. The airplane was destroyed after a postcrash fire occurred; witnesses on scene heard multiple explosions.

A detailed examination is pending once the airplane is recovered.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 

Registration: N2746D

Model/Series: 170B 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: On file 

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: PAFB,454 ft msl 

Observation Time: 14:58 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles 

Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C /4°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling: None

Visibility: 9 miles

Altimeter Setting: 29.88 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: North Pole, AK 

Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious 

Aircraft Damage: Destroyed

Passenger Injuries: 3 Serious 

Aircraft Fire: On-ground

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: On-ground

Total Injuries: 4 Serious

Latitude, Longitude: 64.816936,-147.4168 (est)