Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / ANC96LA108

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC96LA108

1996-07-29 NORTHWAY, Alaska, United States Airport · ORT None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N4464B

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 170

Year of manufacture

1955 · 41 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19560714

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A563CD

Registrant of record

TAILWIND AVIATION INC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

Factual narrative

On July 29, 1996, at 1912 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B, N4464B, crashed during landing at the Northway Airport, Northway, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, about 1620. The pilot reported he was landing on runway 22 and performed a three point landing. The airplane bounced slightly and then ground looped to the right. The left wing struck the runway and was bent upwards, about 3 feet inboard from the tip. The airplane received damage to the left wing spar and ribs. The closest official weather observation station is Northway, Alaska. At 1853, a surface observation was reporting, in part: Sky condition and ceiling, 9,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet overcast; visibility, 50 miles; temperature, 72 degrees F; dew point, 37 degrees F; wind, 290 degrees at 9 knots; altimeter, 29.78 inHg. The pilot made a three-point landing in the tail-wheel equipped airplane. The airplane bounced slightly and then ground looped to the right. The left wing struck the runway and was bent upwards, about 3 feet inboard from the tip. The airplane received damage to the left wing spar and ribs. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1996_ANC96LA108.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.