# NTSB CEN13CA306: Cessna 170B, N3119A, Danville, IN, May 23, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 22, 2013, 20:45 local (May 23, 2013, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Danville, IN
- Coordinates: 39.746665, -86.47528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7467&lon=-86.4753&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 July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87035/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA306

## Probable cause

The pilot not maintaining directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in the ground loop.

## 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 170B, 91 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 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

The pilot said that the purpose of the flight was to accumulate two hours solo flight time in reference to insurance requirements. He stated that during his second landing, while transitioning into the flare, he saw the airspeed was 65 mph; he reduced engine power to idle and banked with a “slight” right wing low into the wind. The tail wheel airplane touched down with right main and then left main. The pilot reported that he “got really light on my wheels” and swerved to the right. He swerved to left and the swerves were subsequently getting worse. He said that he could not get the aircraft straightened out. The left wheel skidded on runway and the airplane came to rest on the pavement with the pilot’s door open. The pilot’s door would not close and the pilot taxied the airplane back to the hanger. During a post flight inspection, the pilot discovered white dust on the left main tire. He subsequently found his tire marks just north of the midfield turn off and followed the marks to their end where he found three pieces of the left wheel half. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight. A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed there was substantial damage to the fuselage and landing gear box.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said that the purpose of the flight was to accumulate two hours solo flight time in reference to insurance requirements. He stated that during his second landing round out, he saw the airspeed was 65 mph, he reduced engine power to idle, and banked with a “slight” right wing low into the wind. The tail wheel airplane touched down with right main and then left main. The pilot reported that he “got really light on my wheels” and swerved to the right. He swerved to left and the swerves were subsequently getting worse. He said that he could not get the aircraft straightened out. The left wheel skidded on runway and the airplane came to rest on the pavement with the pilot’s door open. The pilot’s door would not close and the pilot taxied the airplane back to the hanger. During a post flight inspection, the pilot discovered white dust on the left main tire. He subsequently found his tire marks just north of the midfield turn off and followed the marks to their end where he found three pieces of the left wheel half. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight. A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed substantial fuselage and landing gear box damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3119A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3119A), registered now, S/N 25763, built 1953 (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: 25763
- Airframe hours: 3449
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David Needham
- Registered owner: David Needham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2013
- Departed: 2R2, Danville, IN
- Destination: 2R2, Danville, IN
- Airport: 2R2, Hendricks County Airport, runway 18, 4,400 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 138 total, 2 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observed at: IND

## 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 20130522008669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130522008669A), May 22, 2013: Cessna 170B, Danville, IN, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft immediately following touchdown at Hendricks country airport (2R2), runway 18. The aircraft initially swerved to the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87035. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394693&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.

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