# NTSB CEN21LA415: Cessna 170B, N2998D, Ozark, AR, September 12, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 12, 2021, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Ozark, AR
- Coordinates: 35.487, -93.8277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4870&lon=-93.8277&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- 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, Little Rock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103844
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA415
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103844/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103844
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA415

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate takeoff performance planning that resulted in a climb gradient too low to clear trees on departure, and his failure to maintain aircraft control that resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while climbing after takeoff during a personal flight with 20o flaps and an airspeed 60 kts, he noticed that the climb seemed very slow. As the airplane approached a tree line, the pilot, thinking the airplane would not clear the trees, reduced the flap setting to 10o to increase airspeed. When the pilot realized that the airplane would not clear the trees, he initiated a 180o turn, with the intent to land on another runway at the departure airport. During the turn, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and subsequently impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane flight manual stated that the climb speed should be 62 knots with a 20o flap setting.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2998D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2998D), registered now, S/N 26941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26941
- Airframe hours: 2375
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Elite Aircraft Sales LLC
- Registered owner: Elite Aircraft Sales LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2021
- Destination: SRC, Searcy, AR
- Airport: 51AR, Byrd's Backcountry Airstrip, runway 7, 2,500 × 30 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,617 total, 184 in this make and model, 1,560 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: FYV, 29 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 20210912021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210912021949A), Sep 12, 2021: Cessna 170B, Cass, AR, Substantial damage. On September 12, 2021 on or about 1530 CST, Cessna 170, N2998D, departed Byrd'S Backcountry Airstrip (51AR) runway 7 which is 2500' long. VMC conditions…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103844. 4.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13281101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo log (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13305458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log_Redacted-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.

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