# Accident 19980807028979A: Cessna 170A, Pell City, AL, August 7, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 1998, 12:50 local time
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Airport: St Clair County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5609° N, 86.2701° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5609&lon=-86.2701&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9968A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9968A) (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: LYC O145*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 56 total, 41 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980807028979A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS COMPLETING HIS THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT THAT CONSISTED OF SEVERAL LANDINGS. ON THE LAST LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE MADE A THREE POINT TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, AND WEATHER VANED INTO THE CROSSWIND.  AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.  ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS, THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL IN THE PROPER CRAB POSITION WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED.  THE EYEWITNESS ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, THE RIGHT WING HIT THE RUNWAY AND 'GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT'. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE WERE REPORTED BY THE STUDENT PILOT.  EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY FAILED TO DISCLOSE STRUCTURAL DEFORMATION OTHER THAN OVERLOAD.                                                                        (-23) A STUDENT PILOT ON HIS THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT LANDED THE CESSNA170A AT PELL CITY, ALABAMA ON RUNWAY 20. DURING THE THREE POINT CROSSWIND LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SLIGHTLY AND SKIPPED ON THE RIGHT WHEEL. THE RI GHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FOLDED UNDER AND THE FUSELAGE, AND DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST FACING AN EASTERLY DIRECTION WITH HALF OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY. A MEETING WITH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT TOOK PLACE. REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STUDENT TRAINING WERE DISCUSSED. A MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT WAS DATE 08/07/98 WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FAA. THE RIGHT BRACKET WITH THE GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED AND SMALL STRESS CRACKS WERE EVIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT AT ONE TIME WAS ON SKIS WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE STRESS. A 500 HOUR INSPECTION TO INCLUDE GEAR REMOVAL OR A MANUFACTURERS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE M AND D REPORT.

## 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 ATL98LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA106), Aug 7, 1998: Cessna 170 (N9968A), Pell City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the flight controls during a crosswind landing and the improper recovery from a bounce resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. A factor was the right…

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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