# NTSB CEN11CA122: Cessna 170B, N1634D, Houston, TX, December 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 11, 2010, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.818056, -95.6725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8181&lon=-95.6725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 78042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing rollout on the instructional flight, the airplane encountered a right crosswind and started veering to the right. According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), he took the controls just as a wind gust struck the right side of the airplane, which resulted in the left wingtip striking the runway. The CFI stated full opposite control was insufficient to prevent the right wing from rising and the left wing tip from scraping the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left aileron. ## Factual narrative The pilot was receiving dual instruction. During the landing roll out with a right crosswind the airplane started veering to the right. The flight instructor took control just as a wind gust struck the right side of the airplane, which resulted in the left wingtip striking the runway. The flight instructor stated full opposite control was insufficient to prevent to right wing from rising and the left wingtip from scraping the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left aileron. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1634D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1634D), registered now, S/N 20276, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20276 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IWS, Houston, TX - Destination: IWS, Houston, TX - Airport: IWS, West Houston, runway 15, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 4,670 total, 5 in this make and model, 4,498 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 7,855 total, 1 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SGR ## 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 20101211054139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101211054139A), Dec 11, 2010: Cessna 170B, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was providing instruction to airman. The student pilot was having difficulty in a cross wind. Pilot took control and scraped wing tip and aileron on left… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78042. 14.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 14.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342173&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, 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.