N9754A

On August 23, 1998, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170A airplane, N9754A, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Bradley Sky Ranch airstrip, North Pole, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight last departed Fairbanks International Airport on August 23, time unknown.

FAA Fairbanks Flight Standards inspectors interviewed the pilot August 28. The FAA inspectors reported the pilot told them he was practicing landings in calm wind conditions at the Bradley Sky Ranch airstrip. The student pilot related that shortly after touchdown on runway 15, he lost directional control, the airplane ground looped/swerved to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed.

In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported a crosswind caught the left side of the airplane while landing, and pushed it off the right side of the runway, collapsing the right main landing gear, and striking the right wing on the ground. He did not indicate the estimated direction or velocity of the wind.

At 1553, wind conditions at Fairbanks International Airport,16 miles west of the accident site, were reported to be from 124 degrees magnetic, at 8 knots.

An inspection of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector disclosed substantial damage to the right main landing gear's gear box, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage, and the aileron on the right wing.

The pilot noted in his report to the NTSB that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction with the airplane.