# NTSB CEN21LA097: Cessna 170, N9590A, Albion, NE, December 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 18, 2020, 11:51 local (17:51 UTC) - Place: Albion, NE · Ground loop during landing roll on runway 15, approximately midfield. - Coordinates: 41.728577, -98.05576 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7286&lon=-98.0558&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing with a tailwind. ## 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) - [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: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [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) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a local flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane when it bounced upon touchdown on the main landing gear. The pilot attempted to recover from the bounced landing by increasing elevator pitch to make a full-stall landing, but the airplane yawed to the right and ground looped on the runway. The pilot was unable to regain directional control of the airplane and it swerved off the right side of the runway where the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wingtip struck the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The forward fuselage, left wing, and left aileron sustained substantial damage during the accident. According to available weather data, the surface wind at the airport was calm when the pilot departed on the flight from runway 15, but at the time of the accident the wind direction had changed to the north-northwest at 6 knots. Based on the wind data, the wind direction would have resulted in a tailwind during landing. The pilot stated that the accident might have been avoided had he kept closer attention to the airport’s windsock and landed into the wind instead of having a tailwind during landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9590A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9590A), registered now, S/N 19151, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A) - 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: 19151 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 1940.3 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2019, 10.3 hours before - Airport: BVN, Albion Municipal Airport, runway 15, 3,700 × 60 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review February 22, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,160 total, 503 in this make and model, 1,944 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: BVN ## 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 20201218018229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201218018229A), Dec 18, 2020: Cessna 170A, Albion, NE, Substantial damage. Pilot?s statement. "Since the covid-19 virus, my flying has been limited. I've had a difficult time scheduling my plane's annual. Upon recently getting a… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102449. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12062835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of conversation (ronald levander) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12061339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Ronald%20Levander)-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector records of conversations (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12061807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Records%20of%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather documentation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12062845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Weather%20Documentation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport security video of accident (item 5, MP4, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12062918&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=05%20-%20Airport%20Security%20Video-Rel.mp4 - Photos (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12062855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.