NTSB ANC12CA105 — 2012-09-13 · Bethel, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N543AR

Make / Model: CESSNA 170B
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A6E321

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N543AR Cessna 170B None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The private pilot reported that he was taking off on a gravel runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that during the takeoff roll, as the tail of the airplane came off the ground, the airplane started drifting to the left, and he overcompensated with right rudder, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The private pilot reported that he was taking off on a gravel runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that during the takeoff roll, as the tail of the airplane came off the ground, the airplane started drifting to the left, and he overcompensated with right rudder, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ANC12CA105.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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