# NTSB CEN12CA341: Cessna 170A, N9753A, Houston, TX, June 4, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 4, 2012, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.935556, -95.639442 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9356&lon=-95.6394&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA341
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83868/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83868
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA341

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Other: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane encountered a gust of wind and veered left. He stated that he lost control, and the airplane ground looped and sustained substantial fuselage damage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that on landing the airplane encountered a gust of wind and veered left. He stated that he lost control and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial fuselage damage at the left landing gear attachment. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions. The airport routine weather report showed the wind as 230 degrees at 3 knots about the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9753A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9753A), registered now, S/N 19214 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- 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: 19214
- Airframe hours: 2899.7
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2012
- Departed: IWS, Houston, TX
- Destination: EYQ, Houston, TX
- Airport: EYQ, Weiser Air Park, runway 09, 3,455 × 40 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 2,300 total, 17 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: DWH

## 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 20120604011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120604011849A), Jun 4, 2012: Cessna 170A, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. At approximately 1300 LCL, N9753A attempted a normal approach and landing at keyq (Weiser Air Park) on runway 09. The aircraft exited the runway 1,840 feet…

## Other investigations on N9753A (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC67A0105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67A0105), Jan 22, 1967: Cessna 170A (N9753A), Mcclellandtown, PA, destroyed, 3 fatal

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83868. 498 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 418 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous - Local Weather (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Local%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Correspondence - E-mail excerpt from the pilot (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20E-mail%20excerpt%20from%20the%20pilot-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.

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