# NTSB ATL02LA080: Cessna 170B, N3470C, Ocala, FL, April 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2002, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Ocala, FL - Coordinates: 29.171943, -82.224166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1719&lon=-82.2242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54536/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54536 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll, resulting in a loss of control/ground loop. ## Analysis The pilot stated that the approach to land was normal and the airplane touched down on the centerline of runway 36, approximately 2000 down the runway. Immediately upon touchdown, the airplane departed the runway surface to the right and ground looped. The pilot attempted to correct directional control problem by adding full left rudder and full right aileron, but the pilot was unable to stop the ground loop. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or system failure with the airplane. The reported winds at the time of the accident were light and variable; the 6,096 foot long runway surface condition was dry. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2002 at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3470C registered to a private pilot, collided with the ground adjacent to runway 36 while attempting a landing at Ocala Regional Airport in Ocala, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida at 0725 and was enroute to Ocala Regional Airport in Ocala, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the air transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot stated that the approach profile to land was normal and the airplane touched down on the centerline of runway 36, approximately 2000 down the runway. Immediately upon touchdown, the airplane departed the runway surface to the right and ground looped. The pilot attempted to correct directional control problem by adding full left rudder and full right aileron, but the pilot was unable to stop the ground loop. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or system failure with the airplane. The reported winds at the time of the accident were light and variable; the 6,096 foot long runway surface condition was dry. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - runway - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3470C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3470C), registered now, S/N 26513, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - 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: 26513 - Airframe hours: 4635 - Engines: Continental C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary Banks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2002, 14 hours before - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: OCF, Ocala, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OCF, Ocala Regional, runway 36, 6,900 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 2, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 17,557 total, 57 in this make and model, 7,557 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 19 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: OCF, 97 nm away ## 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 20020408009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020408009229A), Apr 8, 2002: Cessna 170B, Ocala, FL, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost control of the subject aircraft during landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54536. 622 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.