20180111000749A

On January 11, 2018, at approximately 1100 EDT, N1997C, a Cessna 170B, sn: 26142, successfully landed, at a private strip, on runway 15 at 06NY (Murphy Field). 06NY is a grass runway. While back taxiing on the runway to the hangar, the aircraft was blown off the runway, into a soybean field, and back onto the runway, where it came to rest on its nose. Wind gusts then blew the aircraft over onto its back. Pilot in command (PIC), was the sole occupant. PIC exited aircraft after it came to rest on its nose, just prior to the wind flipping it over. No injuries were sustained. Aircraft suffered substantial damage.

Marks on the runway indicated the right wheel of the aircraft was skidding for approximately seventy-five feet. Skid marks veered to the left where they exited into the field. Tire marks indicated a hard left hand turn in the field and back onto the runway. There was a plow furrow on the edge of the runway approximately one-foot high. Impact marks on the runway were evident where the aircraft rocked onto its nose. Impact marks on the runway were evident where the tail struck when the aircraft flipped. There was no evidence of fuel leakage where the aircraft came to rest. At the time of my investigation, the runway was wet and soft. After the accident it had rained heavily, and I was unable to verify runway conditions at the time of the accident.

Pilot and witness interviews were consitent. Pilot and witness both stated the wind was gusting strongly at the time of the accident. Pilot and witness both stated runway was wet and soft, but not muddy, at the time of accident.

Counseled pilot regarding his aeronautical decision making. While there were no apparent violations to 14 CFR, the weather conditions and runway conditions were not optimal.