# NTSB ANC03LA087: Cessna 170, N3418C, Anchorage, AK, August 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2003, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.214443, -149.846115 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2144&lon=-149.8461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57634/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane that resulted in the left wing contacting the runway surface during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident were the presence of the crosswind, and the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The private certificated pilot had recently received a tailwheel endorsement, and was practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane at various airports. During the accident landing, the pilot reported that a right crosswind was blowing between 10 to 12 knots. He said the airplane bounced on touchdown, and the right wing was lifted by the wind. He corrected the bounce by application of rudder, but the left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane ground looped. The pilot said a mechanic examined the airplane and advised him that two outboard wing ribs of the left wing and the left aileron required replacement. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2003, about 1205 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N3418C, sustained substantial damage when the left wing contacted the runway following a loss of control during the landing roll at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field about 0900. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 5, the pilot reported that he recently received a tailwheel endorsement. He said he was practicing landings at various airports and then landed on runway 24 at Merrill Field. During the landing, the pilot reported that a right crosswind was blowing between 10 to 12 knots. He said the airplane bounced on touchdown, and the right wing was lifted by the wind. He corrected the bounce by application of rudder, but the left wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane ground looped. The pilot said a mechanic examined the airplane and advised him that two outboard wing ribs of the left wing and the left aileron required replacement. At 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting in part: Wind, 330 degrees (true) at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 6,000 feet, 12,000 feet scattered; temperature, 64 degrees F; dew point, 35 degrees F; altimeter, 30.03 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3418C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3418C-2005-03-25), registration cancelled 2005-03-25, S/N 26461, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 64621 - Airframe hours: 4623 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary R. Ritchey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 24, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 29, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 33 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 305° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030801037189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030801037189A), Aug 1, 2003: Cessna 170B, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot lost control during a crosswind landing on runway 24 at mri, causing substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.