# Accident 20170821013549A: Cessna 170B, Rochelle, IL, August 21, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2017, 11:20 local time
- Place: Rochelle, IL
- Airport: Rochelle Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8931° N, 89.0783° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8931&lon=-89.0783&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2486D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2486D-2019-01-29) (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: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA499](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA499) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170821013549A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT: ON AUGUST 21,2017 THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF N2486D, A CESSNA 170, LANDED HARD AT ROCHELLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KRPJ) ON RUNWAY 07 RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. WIND AT THE TIME OF LANDING WAS 220 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING 24.

THE PIC,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS FLYING FROM DACY AIRPORT (0C0) TO ROCHELLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KRPJ). UPON ARRIVAL TO KRPJ ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CHECKED THE WEATHER TO SEE WHAT RUNWAY TO SET UP FOR. KRPJ?S AWOS-3 REPORTED WINDS AT 100 DEGREES AT 05 KNOTS. USING THIS INFORMATION ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DECIDED TO USE RUNWAY 07. UPON LANDING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE EXPERIENCED WIND SHEAR FOLLOWED BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT TAIL WIND. AFTER RECOGNIZING THE WEATHER SHIFT THE PIC STATES HE ATTEMPTED TO "GO AROUND", HOWEVER THE PLANE WAS POSITIONED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY TO SAFELY EXECUTE A GO AROUND. N2486D LEFT THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED THE GRASS, AS THE PLANE MADE THIS TRANSITION THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND THE RIGHT WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

CASUAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE WIND. DURING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INITIAL OBSERVATION OF THE WIND IT WAS FAVORING RUNWAY 07.  IN THE TIME IT TOOK TO GET FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL, THE WIND HAD CHANGED IN BOTH DIRECTION AND SPEED. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNFAVORABLE LANDING CONDITION. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE CHANGE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN AND THIS RESULTED IN THE HARD LANDING.

RECOMMENDATIONS: IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IN THE FUTURE USE THE MARKINGS ON THE AIRPORT TO HIS ADVANTAGE. THE WIND SOCK LOCATED NEAR THE RUNWAY AT KRPJ WOULD HAVE PROVIDED WARNING TO THE WIND SHIFT ALLOWING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO INITIATE A GO AROUND. ALSO IF ANY PIC FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH AN APPROACH OR LANDING THEY SHOULD INITIATE A GO AROUND.

COMMENTS: THE PIC UNDERSTANDS THE ERROR HE MADE AND WAS COOPERATIVE IN THE INVESTIGATION. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FORTHCOMING THAT THE INCIDENT WAS HIS FAULT AND PROVIDED ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED IN A TIMELY MANNER.  CLOSED WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION REMEDIAL TRAINING (PTRS# 201707218)

## 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 GAA17CA499](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA499), Aug 21, 2017: Cessna 170 (N2486D), Rochelle, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a tailwind.

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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