# Accident 19980601011549A: Cessna 170B, Los Alamos, NM, June 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 1, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Los Alamos, NM
- Airport: Los Alamos Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8901° N, 106.2801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8901&lon=-106.2801&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1896C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1896C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 520 total, 140 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980601011549A

## Narrative

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

WHEEL LANDING. LOST CONTROL. VEERED OFF RUNWAY. (.4) THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 (5,500 FT. X 75 FT., ELEVATION 7,171 FEET) WHICH IS LOCATED ON TOP A MESA WITH TREES LINING THE SOUTH SIDE. HE STATED THAT HE REQUESTED AN AIRPORT ADVISORY WHICH GAVE THE WIND AT S-SE FOR 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, IT BEGAN TO 'WEATHER VAIN,' AND IT EXITED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT STRIKING A DITCH AND FENCE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,459 FEET, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23) ON JUNE 1, 1998, AT 1441 MDT, A CESSNA CE-170B, N1896C, REGISTERED TO CO-OWNER LLOYD F. HUNT, AND FLOWN BY EARL WAYNE BACKENSTOW, ON A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT LOS ALAMOS INTERNATINAL AIRPORT NEAR LOS ALAMOS, NM. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING FROM A FIFTEEN MINUTE FLIGHT, WITH ONLY THE PILOT, MR. BACKENSTOW ONBOARD. UPON ATTEMPTING A WHEEL LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BOTH WINGS AND THE PROPELLER. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED, VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, HOWEVER THE SURFACE WIND WAS GUSTY.

## 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 FTW98LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA251), Jun 1, 1998: Cessna 170B (N1896C), Los Alamos, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Contributing factors were the crosswinds, the fence, and the ditch.

## Other reports on N1896C (2)

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

- [Accident 19830226005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830226005379A), Feb 26, 1983: Cessna 170B (N1896C), Buffalo, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control during landing, aircraft ground looped.
- [Accident 19810214004129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810214004129A), Feb 14, 1981: Cessna 170B (N1896C), Buffalo, WY, Substantial damage. Veered off runway on landing roll. Main wheel broke off. Airplane ground-looped.

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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