# Accident 20250823012059A: Cessna 170B, Livermore Falls, ME, August 23, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 2025, 14:30 local time
- Place: Livermore Falls, ME
- Airport: Bowman Fld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.4098° N, 70.1462° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4098&lon=-70.1462&mi=10
- Aircraft: N170JL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N170JL) (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: 1,818 total, 1,219 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA320) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250823012059A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 23, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1430 EASTERN TIME, A CESSNA 170B WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT BOWMAN FIELD (KB10) DURING A STOL (SHORT TAKEOFF AND LANDING) COMPETITION EVENT. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND WAS NOT INJURED.

THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS CLEAR SKIES WITH SOUTH WINDS ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES, BASED ON THE WINDSOCK LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT, TO BE GUSTING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 20. ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS AND AMATEUR VIDEO FOOTAGE DOCUMENTING THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, THE APPROACH APPEARED STABLE BUT SLOW. AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE TREE LINE AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD, IT SETTLED TO AN ESTIMATED 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE INTENDED LANDING SPOT, THE AIRCRAFT’S RIGHT WING BEGAN TO BUFFET AND LOWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED AN AERODYNAMIC STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. THE VIDEO SHOWS THE LEFT WING CONTACTING THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROTATING APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES BEFORE COMING TO REST UPRIGHT.

THE LEFT WINGTIP, MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT. THE TAIL SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND, HALTING THE ROTATION AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAIL CONE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT ON THE DAMAGED LANDING GEAR.

THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED CONTINUITY OF ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS. DAMAGE OBSERVED WAS CONSISTENT WITH IMPACT OF THE LEFT WINGTIP, PROPELLER, MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND TAIL CONE WITH THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA25LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA320), Aug 23, 2025: Cessna 170B (N170JL), Livermore Falls, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

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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