# NTSB CEN13CA544: Cessna 170A, N170TP, Victoria, TX, September 11, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 11, 2013, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Victoria, TX
- Coordinates: 28.846666, -96.912498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8467&lon=-96.9125&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA544
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88032/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA544

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

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

- [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 170A, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-flare/touchdown: 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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he was returning to land after practicing flight maneuvers and thetower controller cleared him to land on runway 13. The pilot added that he observed the wind was light, with an occasional gust. He landed the airplane just past the threshold and was trying to slow down, when a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane lifted up, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was returning to land after practicing flight maneuvers and thetower controller cleared him to land on runway 13. The pilot added that he observed the wind was light, with an occasional gust. He landed the airplane just past the threshold and was trying to slow down, when a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane lifted up, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N170TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N170TP), registered now, S/N 19609, built 1950 (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: 19609
- Airframe hours: 2331
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 2012
- Departed: VCT, Victoria, TX
- Destination: VCT, Victoria, TX
- Airport: VCT, Victoria Rgnl, runway 13R, 4,643 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 26 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KVCT

## 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 20130911022279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130911022279A), Sep 11, 2013: Cessna 170A, Victoria, TX, Substantial damage. Upon landing on runway 13R at Victoria regional airport, Texas, the aircraft encountered a wind gust which raised the left wing and caused the right wing tip…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88032. 3.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 818 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo: Accident airplane (FAA photo) (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.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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