- Date
- October 19, 2009, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- London, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2719DCessna 170B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 3, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Columbus FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091019050609A
- Case key
- 74932
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll “a strong wind gust from the left caused me to lose control and veer off the runway.” The airplane temporarily became airborne over the grassy area adjacent to the runway. The pilot reduced engine power to idle; however, the airplane encountered a “hole,” causing the left main landing gear to collapse. A postaccident inspection revealed that the left elevator had struck a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) light. The left wing was also damaged, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Recorded winds in the vicinity of the accident airport were from the south at 6 knots. However, southerly winds with gusts to 16 knots had been recorded prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, “a strong wind gust from the left caused me to lose control and veer off the runway.” The airplane temporarily became airborne over the grass area adjacent to the runway. The pilot reduced engine power to idle. However, the airplane encountered a “hole” causing the left main landing gear to collapse. A post accident inspection revealed that the left elevator had struck a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) light. The left wing was also damaged. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Recorded winds in the vicinity of the accident airport were from the south at 6 knots. However, southerly winds with gusts to 16 knots had been recorded prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2719D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25261
- Airframe hours
- 2,857
- Engine
- Cont Motor C145 SERIES, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 16, 2009
- Departed
- UYF · London, OH
- Destination
- I19 · Xenia, OH
- Airport
- UYF · Madison County, runway 27, 4,001 × 75 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 85
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 12, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,497 total · 1,134 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- TZR, 15 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 907 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.