# Accident 20211115019579A: Cessna 170B, Belen, NM, November 15, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2021, 13:30 local time
- Place: Belen, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6459° N, 106.8363° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6459&lon=-106.8363&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3463C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3463C-2023-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 36 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211115019579A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 15, 2021, AT 1330 MST, A CESSNA 170, N3463C, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PERFORMED A GROUND LOOP DURING ITS TAKEOFF ROLL ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM BELEN REGIONAL AIRPORT?S RUNWAY 13.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING SPAR.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BELEN REGIONAL IN VFR CONDITIONS ON NOVEMBER 15, 2021 AT 1320 MST.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

THE PILOT STATED THAT, BASED ON A WIND OF 140/5, HE OPTED TO DEPART RUNWAY 13.  A C-130 RESPONDED TO HIS CTAF COMMUNICATION THAT IT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 31.  AFTER STOPPING, THE C-130 CLEARED RUNWAY 31 AT B2.  N3463C ENTERED RUNWAY 13 AT B1 AND STARTED ITS TAKEOFF ROLL.  AS IT PASSED THE CLEARING C130, THE PROP WASH SWEPT N3463C TO THE RIGHT RESULTING IN THE GROUND LOOP.

BASED ON THE DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS, THE IIC FEELS THAT THE GROUND LOOP AND ACCIDENT WERE DUE TO COMPLACENCY.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH WAKE TURBULENCE AND DID NOT STOP TO CONSIDER THE PROP WASH ASSOCIATED WITH THE C-130 OPERATING NEAR THE RUNWAY. HE AGREES WITH THE ASSESSMENT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR THE C-130 TO TURN SO IT WAS NOT BLOWING ACROSS RUNWAY 13 OR TAXIED PAST B2 PRIOR TO APPLYING TAKEOFF POWER.

## 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 WPR22LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA038), Nov 15, 2021: Cessna 170B (N3463C), Belen, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## Other reports on N3463C (2)

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

- [Incident 20190810013799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190810013799I), Aug 10, 2019: Cessna 170B (N3463C), Taos, NM, Minor damage. On August 10, 2019 at 1200 MDT, a Cessna 170B, N3463C, registered to [privacy data omitted] ground looped and departed the runway on landing at Taos, regional…
- [Incident 19800313038759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800313038759I), Mar 13, 1980: Cessna 170 (N3463C), Hartford, CT, Minor damage. During crosswind landing, pilot lost 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.

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