# Accident 19980524015589A: Cessna 170A, Provo, UT, May 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 1998, 14:00 local time
- Place: Provo, UT
- Airport: Provo Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2200° N, 111.6893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2200&lon=-111.6893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9732A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9732A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170A (registry code 2072304, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Reported engine: CONT O300B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 582 total, 38 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA237) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980524015589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DOWNWIND LANDING AND LACK OF TAILWHEEL EXPERIENCE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL, DRAGGED WINGTIP AND GROUNDLOOP. (.4)THE PILOT SAID THAT AS HE APPROACHED HIS DESTINATION, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT EITHER THE AIRPORT OR OTHER AIR TRAFFIC TO OBTAIN WIND INFORMATION TO FIND OUT WHICH RUNWAY WAS IN USE. FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT, HE SAW THAT THE WIND SOCK INDICATED THE WINDS WERE CALM, SO HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 13. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE 'FELT SOFT ON THE LEFT SIDE' AND BEGAN 'WEAVING' DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WHEEL BROKE OFF THE LANDING GEAR, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. A WITNESS TOLD THE PILOT HE THOUGHT HE 'MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED A RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND GUST.'  AN FAA INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, SAID THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE OVERLOAD.                                 (-23)PILOT LANDED AT PROVO UTAH ON RUNWAY 13, DURING THE LANDING ROLE THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.  THE PILOT LANDED IN A TAILWIND CONDITION WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE GROUND LOOP.  THE PILOT WAS FOLLOWING THE OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE PATTERN.  THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ONBOARD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA237), May 24, 1998: Cessna 170A (N9732A), Provo, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane. A related factor was the right quartering tailwind gust.

## Other reports on N9732A (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20240928017009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240928017009I), Sep 28, 2024: Cessna 170A (N9732A), Garden City, KS, Minor damage. On August 28, 2024 the private pilot was cleared for the option on runway 30 at Garden City Regional Airport (gck). The winds were 330 at 8 knots. During the…
- [Incident 19951113045729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951113045729I), Nov 13, 1995: Cessna 170A (N9732A), Payson, AZ, Minor damage. Narrative: according to PIC: instructor pilot (steve vaughn) was giving tail dragger instruction. Upon landing the student froze on controls and PIC couldn't…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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