# NTSB CEN09CA011: Cessna 170, N9100A, Santa Fe, NM, October 12, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2008, 14:53 local (20:53 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Coordinates: 35.617221, -106.089447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6172&lon=-106.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69273/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA011

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's delay in taking timely control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with a glider-aero tow-only rating, was receiving flight instruction in her recently purchased conventional-landing-gear airplane. The pilot also wanted to add a powered rating to her certificate. After performing various maneuvers in the practice area, the pilot and instructor returned to the airport and made a normal full flaps landing on runway 20. The pilot was flying and the instructor was handling the flaps and coaching the student. Upon touchdown, the tail wheel bounced slightly and the airplane began to drift to the left. The instructor attempted to correct the drift with opposite rudder. The airplane swerved to the right and tilted left. The left wingtip struck the ground and the airplane nosed down. The left wing spar and aileron were bent. At the time of the accident, the recorded wind was 240 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

## Factual narrative

On October 13, 2008, at 1453 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N9100A, newly registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it ground looped on landing at Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The flight originated at SAF approximately 1400. According to the instructor's accident report, he was giving the pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with a glider-aero tow only rating, instruction in her recently-purchased conventional landing gear airplane. After performing various maneuvers in the practice area, they returned to SAF and made a normal full flaps landing on runway 20. The pilot was flying and the instructor was handling the flaps and coaching the student. Upon touchdown, the tail wheel bounced slightly and the airplane began to drift to the left. The instructor attempted to correct the drift with opposite rudder. The airplane swerved to the right and tilted left. The left wingtip struck the ground and the airplane nosed down. The left wing spar and aileron were bent. At the time of the accident. the recorded SAF wind was 240 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. Asked how the accident could have been prevented, the instructor said that he needed more time in the airplane, he overestimated the pilot's ability to control the airplane, he allowed her to attempt a 30-degree crosswind landing, and he should have taken control of the airplane and made the landing in the existing wind conditions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9100A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9100A), registered now, S/N 18859, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18859
- Airframe hours: 3437
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: James Garner/Constance & Ernest Buenafe
- Registered owner: James Garner/Constance & Ernest Buenafe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2008, 10 hours before
- Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, NM
- Destination: SAF, Santa Fe, NM
- Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Municipal, runway 20, 8,342 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 5,751 total, 17 in this make and model, 5,439 as pilot in command, 189 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 1 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 197 total, 1 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 19 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: SAF

## 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 20081012849809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081012849809A), Oct 12, 2008: Cessna 170A, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 12, 2008 at 1453 local time, N9100A, a Cessna 170 aircraft was damaged upon landing at Santa Fe Municipal Airport in Santa Fe, new Mexico. The…

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.

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