# Accident 20230123004799A: Cessna 170A, Mesa, AZ, January 23, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 23, 2023, 16:31 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3100° N, 111.6600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3100&lon=-111.6600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9534A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9534A) (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: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 18,500 total, 1 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230123004799A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN HAD JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED THE FLIGHT REVIEW.  HE ALSO WANTED TO OBTAIN CURRENCY IN A TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT AFTER A 6 YEAR SPAN.  HE COORDINATED WITH A FRIEND WHO WAS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT.  THE INSTRUCTOR CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT BRIEF TO INCLUDE THE FLIGHT AND LANDING CHARISTICS OF THE C-170.  ONCE THE BRIEF WAS COMPLETE, THE PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR TOOK OFF FROM THE PHOENIX-MESA GATEWAY (IWA) AIRPORT.  DURING THE FIRST LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT EXHIBITED A TYPICAL LANDING CHARISTIC OF "HOPPING" AT THE MOMENT OF TOUCHDOWN.  THE PILOT RESPONSE IS TO APPLY A SLIGHT DOWN ELEVATOR TO PUT SOME DOWNWARD FORCE ON THE LANDING GEAR.  AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SLOW YAW TO THE LEFT.  THE PILOT APPLIED A MINIMAL RIGHT RUDDER (TYPICAL FOR THIS AIRCRAFT) TO CORRECT THE YAW.  WHEN THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE YAW, THE PILOT APPLIED ANOTHER MINIMAL RIGHT RUDDER CORRECTION.  AGAIN, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE LEFT YAW.  THE PILOT AGAIN APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO WHICH THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A RAPID RIGHT YAW AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ENTER A GROUND LOOP CONDITION.  AT THIS POINT, THE LEFT LANDING GEAR BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GEAR LEG.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED ON THE BROKEN LEFT GEAR LEG.  THE LEFT WING THEN STRUCK THE PAVEMENT CAUSING THE SUBSTANCIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN YAWED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO A STOP.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

## 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 WPR23LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA096), Jan 23, 2023: Cessna 170 (N9534A), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll out and the preexisting fatigue cracks in the left main landing gear leg, which resulted in the leg’s premature overstress…

## Other reports on N9534A (1)

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

- [Accident 19940506010409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940506010409A), May 6, 1994: Cessna 170A (N9534A), Baco Raton, FL, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Veered off runway into water ditch 200 feet from runway. Failed to go around.

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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