# NTSB CEN14LA436: Cessna 170B, N60PE, Augusta, KS, August 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2014, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Augusta, KS - Coordinates: 37.671665, -97.077774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6717&lon=-97.0778&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 January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA436 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA436 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. ## 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 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) - [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) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the accident flight, he had successfully completed six landings at several airports before deciding to return to the departure airport for a final landing. He stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced upon touchdown on the runway. In an attempt to recover from the bounced landing, he maintained pitch attitude to allow the airplane to settle back to the runway. After the second touchdown, the airplane began to swerve left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control of the airplane, and it subsequently departed the left side of the runway and then came to rest in a nose-down attitude in a grassy area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented its normal operation. Additionally, the pilot stated that the cause of the accident was his failure to maintain focused on the task of landing the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2014, about 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna model 170B airplane, N60PE, was substantially damaged while landing at the Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU), Augusta, Kansas. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight that departed about 0800.The pilot reported that during the accident flight he had successfully completed 6 landings at several airports before deciding to return to the departure airport for a final landing. He stated that the tail wheel-equipped airplane bounced upon touchdown on runway 18 (4,201 feet by 60 feet, asphalt). In an attempt to recover from the bounced landing, he maintained pitch attitude to allow the airplane to settle back to the runway. After the second touchdown, the airplane began a left swerve. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control of the airplane and it subsequently departed off the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude in a grassy area located alongside the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented its normal operation during the accident flight. Additionally, the pilot stated that the cause of the accident was his failure to maintain focused on the task of landing the airplane instead of another task such as where to exit the runway following the landing. A postaccident examination, completed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, revealed substantial damage to the left wing, engine firewall, and fuselage landing gear support box structure. The right wing tip exhibited scrapes on its lower surface, consistent with contact with the runway surface. The FAA examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or its flight control systems. Additionally, control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the tail wheel assembly. The closest aviation weather reporting station was located about 8 miles northwest of 3AU at the Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO), Wichita, Kansas. At 0954, the AAO weather observing system reported: wind 240 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky conditions, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 20 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60PE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60PE), registered now, S/N 20799, 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 C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20799 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 3748 - Engines: Continental Motors C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 2014 - Departed: 3AU, Augusta, KS - Destination: 3AU, Augusta, KS - Airport: 3AU, Augusta Municipal Airport, runway 18, 4,201 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: AAO, 8 nm away ## 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 20140816013719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140816013719A), Aug 16, 2014: Cessna 170B, Augusta, KS, Substantial damage. On August, 16, 2014, at approximately 0920 local time (1420 UTC), the airman, holder of an airline transport pilot certificate, was involved in an aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89895. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434669&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Mario Errante) (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Mario%20Errante)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Michael Baker) (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Michael%20Baker)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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. --- 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.