# Accident 20240704007939A: Cessna 170A, Dowagiac, MI, July 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2024, 11:30 local time
- Place: Dowagiac, MI
- Airport: Dowagiac Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9937° N, 86.1228° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9937&lon=-86.1228&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9793A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9793A) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 30,200 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240704007939A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 04, 2024, AT 1130 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 170A AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED AS A TRAINING FLIGHT BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT RATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP DURING LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AT THE DOWAGIAC MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (C91) DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT RECEIVED NO INJURIES.

ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HE AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RATED STUDENT WERE CONDUCTING TAILWHEEL TRANSITION TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT AND ON THE 4TH LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT OF CENTERLINE. HE INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO APPLY RIGHT RUDDER, BUT APPARENTLY THE DRIFT WAS OVER CORRECTED, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY PERFORMED A GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR COULD REGAIN CONTROL. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE ALLOWING THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ALMOST 180 DEGREES FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING. BOTH THE PILOT AND STUDENT EGRESSED FROM THE AIRCRAFT UNAIDED.

ACCORDING TO THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RATED STUDENT, THIS WAS ONLY HIS SECOND FLIGHT IN THE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT.

PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THE AIRCRAFT RESTING ON A 45-DEGREE LEFT ANGLE. THE PROPELLER SHOWS MINOR DAMAGE WITH ONE BLADE TIP BELOW THE GRASS SURFACE. THE LEFT SIDE BOOT COWL SHOWS CRUSH DAMAGE AND IS BREACHED INTO THE CABIN UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR IS COLLAPSED AND FOLDED UNDER THE FUSELAGE. THE LEFT-WING STRUT HAS BEEN TORN FOR THE FUSELAGE MOUNTING POINT AND THE WING SHOWS EXTENSIVE UPWARD BENDING AT THE WING ROOT AND OUTBOARD CRUSH DAMAGE AT THE WING TIP. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER IS ALSO DAMAGED AT THE OUTBOARD AREA. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE.

WEATHER: KBEH 041453Z AUTO: 29003KT 10SM CLR 25/20 A2997

## 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 CEN24LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA251), Jul 4, 2024: Cessna 170 (N9793A), Dowagiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot and flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop with the left main landing gear axle failing, a runway excursion,…

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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