# Accident 20031019034289A: Cessna 170, San Diego, CA, October 19, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2003, 18:08 local time
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Airport: Montgomery Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8156° N, 117.1394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8156&lon=-117.1394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3979V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3979V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170 (registry code 2072302, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Pilot flight hours: 346 total, 3 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031019034289A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 19, 2003 N3979V A 1948 CESSNA C170 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE CONDUCTING A FULL STOP LANDING AT MONTGOMERY FIELD (MYF) SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE FINAL FLARE PORTION OF ITS LANDING, THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS SEAT, BECAME DISLODGED FROM ITS LOCKING DEVICE AND SLID REARWARD CAUSING HIM TO BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE RUDDER ON THE AIRCRAFT AS IT TOUCHED DOWN. UPON TOUCHING DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT (NORTH) AND EXITED RUNWAY 28R ONTO A SOFT FIELD AREA, CAUSING THE LEFT GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND THE LEFT WING AND CONTROL SURFACE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE PILOTS SEAT PIN LOCKING DEVICE REVEALED THAT THE PIN WAS OUTSIDE THE SEAT TRACK, PREVENTING IT FROM LOCKING THE SEAT INTO POSITION. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE PIN WAS IN THIS POSITION DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT BENDING THE SUPPORT RODS ON THE SEAT, ALLOWING THE PIN TO BECOME DISLODGED. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THE SEAT BECAME DISLODGED. NTSB AND CESSNA AIRCRAFT INVESTIGATORS ARE EXAMINING FURTHER POSSIBILITIES.

## 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 LAX04LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA020), Oct 20, 2003: Cessna 170 (N3979V), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to determine the security of his seat, and his failure to maintain directional control.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.