# NTSB CEN20CA225: Cessna 170, N2681D, Aitkin, MN, June 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2020, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Aitkin, MN - Coordinates: 46.548332, -93.676666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5483&lon=-93.6767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101424 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101424/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101424 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA225 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); 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) ## 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) (defining event); 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-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he and the student pilot made a straight-in landing approach to the turf runway with a 6 to 7 knot right crosswind. The student intended to make a full-stall landing with the wing flaps extended 20°. Upon touchdown there was a wind gust, which caused the airplane to bounce and drift left over the runway. The flight instructor told the student pilot to add engine power to abort the landing. The student pilot increased engine power, but the airplane continued drifting left over the runway. The airplane bounced a second time, at which time the flight instructor took control of the airplane. The flight instructor stated that the airplane was "skimming the grass" and was "behind the power curve" as he attempted to regain control of the airplane and establish a climb. The airplane impacted the airport perimeter fence about 70 yards left of the runway edge. An engine mount support tube and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2681D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2681D-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 20833, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 (B) - 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: 20833 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 2538 - Engines: Continental C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2019, 9 hours before - Departed: BRD, Brainerd, MN - Destination: AIT, Aitkin, MN - Airport: AIT, Aitkin Municipal Airport, runway 08, 3,123 × 140 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2019; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,984.5 total, 113 in this make and model, 1,436 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 63; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 88 total, 88 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: AIT ## 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 20200609006609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200609006609A), Jun 9, 2020: Cessna 170B, Aitkin, MN, Substantial damage. 2020-06-09 Cessna 170 N2681D bounced the landing on a grass strip at kait and continued powered flight left of the runway hitting a 12 foot high perimeter… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101424. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation with Flight Instructor (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 5, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Photo (item 6, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.