Probable cause
The flight instructor's decision to land with a tailwind, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a ground-loop and nose-over.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor was returning from the practice area with his student on a Title 14, CFR part 91, instructional flight. The flight instructor said he landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a 8-11 knot quartering tailwind. He said as the airplane slowed, the tailwind blew the nose to the right, resulting in a ground-loop and nose-over. He also reported that the accident could have been prevented by not landing with a tailwind.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC09LA053 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 11, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Merrill Field (PAMR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 170B
- N-number
- N2783D
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.